Switch 2 Dock VRR Beats PS5, Digital Foundry Finds

Nintendo's Switch 2 finally gets docked VRR after 16 months, and early testing shows it outperforms PS5's range. Only one game supports it so far, though.

Nintendo Switch 2 just got a feature that's been a long time coming, and early tests suggest it's a genuine powerhouse upgrade.

After 16 months on the market, the console has finally received a docked-mode VRR (variable refresh rate) update, according to Wccftech. For those not deep in display tech, VRR basically lets your screen sync up with the game's frame rate on the fly, which means smoother motion and fewer ugly stutters. It's the kind of thing that can quietly transform how a game feels.

Digital Foundry's John Linneman ran the early tests, and the numbers are impressive. On paper, the Switch 2's docked VRR performance rivals the Xbox Series X|S and actually outmuscles the PS5. In 120Hz mode, it supports full LFC (low framerate compensation), and in the 60Hz range it can handle VRR between 40 and 60Hz. Compare that to the PS5's 48–60Hz window, and Nintendo's little hybrid comes out ahead. The console's built-in screen supports VRR too.

So what does that mean for actual games? Developers now have room to build 40fps modes or even unlock frame rate caps entirely. That's a big deal for anyone who's ever wished a Switch game just ran a little smoother.

There is a catch, and it's a pretty notable one. Games have to be individually patched to enable VRR, and right now only Welcome Tour supports it. That's a pretty thin list for a feature this promising.

There's also a smaller annoyance worth knowing about. Once you flip the setting on, the system forces VRR on across the board, even for games that don't play nice with it. If you're the type who likes black frame insertion, you'll need to dive into your display settings and turn the option off manually.

Linneman expects future releases to adopt the feature as standard, and plenty of handheld-mode titles are already using VRR. He points to upcoming high-speed action games like Metroid Prime: Ravenous as the kind of experience that'll benefit most from the tech. Fast, twitchy gameplay is exactly where smoother refresh rates shine.

For now, the Switch 2's VRR story is a lot of promise with very little to actually try. But if developers jump on board, this could be one of the console's most meaningful upgrades yet. Are you holding out for more games to support it, or is the current lineup enough to get you excited?