Switch 2 finally gets docked VRR, but not quite how you’d expect

When the Nintendo Switch 2 launched, one of the lingering questions surrounding its display capabilities was VRR support while docked. Nintendo had initially mentioned variable refresh rate for compatible displays, only to remove those references from its website and later clarify that VRR would be restricted to handheld mode.

That limitation has finally changed. Around 16 months after launch, Switch 2 docked VRR is now available through system software update 23.0.0. Unfortunately, Nintendo's implementation comes with a significant limitation that could make the feature far less useful than expected.

According to Digital Foundry, docked VRR operates using a whitelist system. Rather than enabling the technology globally, Nintendo requires individual games to be specifically marked by their developers as supporting docked VRR. And at the moment, that whitelist is extremely short. In fact, it reportedly contains just one game: Nintendo's own Switch 2 Welcome Tour.

This is notably different from how VRR works on the PlayStation 5. Sony's console can force VRR at the system level, allowing compatible displays to use variable refresh rates even with games that don't explicitly advertise native VRR support. On Switch 2, however, developers will apparently need to enable the feature on a game-by-game basis.

For anyone unfamiliar with the technology, VRR allows a compatible TV or monitor to dynamically synchronize its refresh rate with the game's current frame rate, provided both remain within the display's supported VRR range. This can significantly reduce screen tearing and make inconsistent frame rates appear smoother.

That could be particularly useful for Switch 2 games with unlocked or fluctuating performance, including titles such as Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition. The Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 have supported VRR since launch, while the feature has also become increasingly common across modern TVs. For now, though, Switch 2 owners shouldn't expect docked VRR to suddenly become a universal feature. Unless Nintendo expands the whitelist quickly, its practical impact will remain very limited.

Nintendo has had a particularly busy week. The company kicked things off with a Nintendo Direct celebrating The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary, with much of the presentation dedicated to the Ocarina of Time remake. A conventional Direct followed just one day later, bringing announcements including Metroid Ravenous, Kirby and the World Beyond, and several Switch 2 editions of existing Switch games.

As always, for the latest news on Nintendo Switch 2, console features, gaming hardware updates, and developments across the gaming industry, be sure to follow our dedicated hardware coverage.