In a rather disappointing turn of events, it turns out the Nintendo Switch 2 will not support VRR in docked mode. When the console was unveiled in April, official wording on Nintendo’s website stated that VRR would be available for both handheld and docked play. While docked users would have to have a compatible display to utilize the feature, it was noted as one of the system’s core features and worked, “by preventing frame skips and flickering.” Now, it seems that listing on the website was a mistake.
In a statement given to Nintendo Life, a spokesperson for the company said, “Nintendo Switch 2 supports VRR in handheld mode only. The incorrect information was initially published on the Nintendo Switch 2 website, and we apologize for the error.” When asked if the feature could be added via a firmware update (similar to what Sony did with the PS5), the company stated, “We have nothing to announce on this topic.”
For most people, the lack of VRR support in docked mode probably won’t mean much. While the feature is much more widespread in 2025 than it was even a few years ago, it does require you to have a newer television or monitor to utilize. Unless you’ve been keeping up with mid-to-high-end displays, your TV might not even have the feature. For others, this is just another in a long list of inaccuracies and confusion that have surrounded the Switch 2’s reveal. Nintendo seemingly cannot get information about this console straight, and it’s stunning that, with only a few weeks to go before release, the company is now amending specifications it previously claimed were available.
VRR would have been an incredible feature to have for docked play as it helps smooth out uneven frame rates by syncing your display’s refresh rate to the console’s output rather than the other way around (which is what traditional vsync does). For now, at least, the console will only feature it in handheld mode. Weirdly, handheld play sounds like it will provide a better experience overall.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
