Update: Nintendo backtracks on Switch 2 feature leaving some players worried News

This feature would have been a game changer for people playing Nintendo Switch 2 in docked mode.

Shortly after the full reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, gamers are considering cancelling their pre-orders after the popular video game maker has backtracked on a feature that the new console supposedly have. While it won’t affect those who play mostly in portable mode, it’s a big blow to those who were looking forward to playing their new Switch 2 console on the TV.

The feature in question is VRR, or Variable Refresh Rate. It’s a technology that allows a display to alter its refresh rate depending on the frame rate that’s being supplied by an input device.

This isn’t particularly useful if you’re just watching TV shows and movies which are typically filmed at a constant 24 or 25 frames per second. However, video games often run at either 30 or 60 frames per second, with some games struggling to maintain those frame rates consistently.

This is where VRR comes in as a display with the technology can adjust its refresh rate to match the incoming frame rate, with the overall effect being that the game looks as though it’s running more smoothly than it actually is. The Nintendo Switch 2 does have VRR technology in its own handheld screen, so the console is certainly capable of supporting the display technology – but Nintendo is quietly scrubbing the feature from its product listings when referring to using the feature during docked mode.

The changes were noticed by Oliver MacKenzie of Digital Foundry and reported by VGC, where he said: “Some weird stuff going on at Nintendo. Looks like they’ve changed their US website to no longer mention VRR support for TV play? Only HDR and 120Hz support get a call-out.”

In a screenshot, Mackenzie shows that the Nintendo website has indeed been edited to remove mention of VRR when referring to technologies compatible with playing while docked. As such, it’s got some Nintendo fans worried that the console might not be able to take full advantage of their high-spec telly’s.

Nintendo fans speculated about why Nintendo might have changed its official wording on the subject. “I wonder if this is because the dock may be HDMI 2.0 and not support it,” suggests one user. VRR requires a HDMI 2.1 port and cable to work properly, and until we get the console in our hands, we won’t know what sort of port the Switch 2 has.

Another gamer tabled a second idea as to why the wording might have changed: “Having seen this before, it’s because Nintendo doesn’t want to be held liable for advertising a feature that doesn’t work on incompatible TVs when docked. You can’t get VRR on a TV that doesn’t support it regardless of having the correct cable connection and whatnot.” However, other Reddit users are quick to chime in that based on the same rationale, the console also wouldn’t advertise that it’s 4K compatible just because all TV’s aren’t capable of outputting a 4K resolution.

It all remains a bit of a mystery, one that won’t be solved unless Nintendo comments directly or we get the Switch 2 in our hands for real. What I can say is that, regardless of whether the Switch 2 can support VRR in docked mode or not, playing the console hooked up to a TV still looks stunning.

I played a variety of games on a Switch 2 in docked mode at London’s Experience event earlier this month including Metroid Prime 4, Donkey Kong Bananza, Mario Kart World and even Hogwarts Legacy. All of them looked incredible on the TV displays with frame rates appearing smooth as butter, although it was impossible to tell whether VRR tech was being deployed.

For those still looking to get a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order, these are the retailers you need to keep an eye on. New stock is coming through in dribs and drabs, so it’s worth enabling stock notifications where possible: