Today, September 10, 2026, Nintendo rolled out System Update 23.0.0 for the Nintendo Switch 2. Central to this update is a feature that many players have been wanting since the console's launch: variable refresh rate, or VRR, now also available in docked TV mode.
What Exactly Changes with System Update 23.0.0?
The update brings several significant new features. Key highlights include:
- VRR (variable refresh rate) now also works in docked TV mode, provided both the game and the TV support the technology.
- New system transfer function: Save data, screenshots, and other data can now be directly transferred from one Switch 2 to another Switch 2.
- Mii characters can now be created via QR code and shared with other players.
- The “Handheld Mode Boost” can now be toggled on and off directly via Quick Settings, without having to navigate through the menu.
- Portuguese (Brazil) has been added as a language for the text-to-speech function and GameChat subtitles.
- Image settings can now be saved separately for each connected TV, convenient for households with multiple TVs.
Do I Need Additional Hardware for VRR in Dock Mode?
Here's the catch: The system update alone is not enough for VRR in docked mode. According to Nintendo, the Switch 2's docking station also needs its own firmware update, which will be rolled out separately. Anyone who wants to use the feature should therefore keep not only the console but also the dock up to date. Without this update, the previous behavior remains, and VRR will continue to only apply in handheld mode.
Why is the VRR Feature so Important for the Switch 2?
For context: Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S have offered variable refresh rates in TV mode since their market launch in 2020. The Switch 2 launched in mid-2026 without this feature in dock mode, which was one of the most frequently mentioned criticisms in the community from the start, especially since Nintendo had otherwise heavily emphasized the console's new performance class in its hardware. With Update 23.0.0, Nintendo is catching up and closing a gap that has consistently been brought up in forums and comment sections since its release. For players, this specifically means: Those who own a VRR-capable TV can now also benefit from smoother visuals in games with fluctuating framerates when playing on TV, as soon as their dock is also updated.
Nintendo had already made several major announcements for the Switch 2 platform in the current Nintendo Direct in September 2026, and the system update fits in right alongside them as a more technical, but long-awaited, component.
Source: Nintendo Life, Shacknews
Have you already tried out the new VRR feature, or are you still waiting for the dock update? Let us know in the comments!
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