Switch 2 Docked VRR
Nintendo Switch 2 Update 23.0.0 Adds Docked VRR and New Features
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Key Points
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Nintendo had initially indicated that VRR would be limited to handheld mode after the Switch 2’s 2025 reveal, making the addition of docked VRR in Version 23.0.0 a reversal of its earlier position.
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GameChat now lets users start a new chat without selecting any friends, and adds a screen-size control to the menu opened with the C button during a chat.
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For Virtual Game Cards, an online license can be used temporarily when a game cannot be transferred because the other console is offline, but only the user who purchased the game can use that license.
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The update expands accessibility by adding Brazilian Portuguese to the text-to-speech language options for GameChat voice-to-text features.
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Audio settings for TV sound are now stored separately for each connected television, so the console can retain different configurations across displays.
Nintendo's Version 23.0.0 update for Switch 2 finally brings Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support to TV mode, letting compatible games run smoother on connected televisions. The feature matches your console's output to your TV's refresh rate, eliminating screen stuttering. Eurogamer notes this reverses Nintendo's earlier position — the company had said VRR would stay limited to handheld mode after the console's 2025 reveal.
The update also enables full console-to-console data transfers between Switch 2 units, adds Mii sharing via QR codes, and improves the GameChat messaging system with new screen controls. IGN reports the update rolled out to both Switch and Switch 2, though the original Switch received fewer features.
How Docked VRR Works on Switch 2
VRR dynamically adjusts your TV's refresh rate to match the game's frame rate output. Video Games Chronicle explains this prevents screen tearing and stuttering during gameplay. To use it, you'll need a compatible TV, an updated Switch 2 Dock, and to enable VRR in Display settings. Not all games support the feature, but compatible titles will run noticeably smoother in TV mode.
NotebookCheck reports that audio settings for TV sound are now saved separately for each connected television. This means your console remembers different audio configurations for different displays, so you won't need to reconfigure settings every time you switch screens.
A 16-Month Reversal on Nintendo's VRR Plans
WCCFtech points out Nintendo had confirmed VRR was dropped for the Switch 2's launch over 16 months ago. The company originally planned to keep the feature limited to handheld mode only. Version 23.0.0 represents a significant policy change, likely responding to player demand for smoother docked gameplay on newer televisions.
GameChat Gets Better and More Accessible
The messaging system now lets you start a new chat without selecting friends first, streamlining quick conversations. A new screen-size control appears when you open the chat menu using the C button. IGN reports the update adds Brazilian Portuguese to GameChat's voice-to-text feature, expanding language support for players worldwide.
Virtual Game Cards Get Offline Backup Access
When transferring Virtual Game Cards between consoles, you can now use a temporary online license if the other console is offline. Video Games Chronicle clarifies that only the user who purchased the game can activate this license. This prevents the transfer from failing when both consoles can't connect to the internet simultaneously.
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