Nintendo Switch 2 update 23.0.0 is live in Japan: docked VRR support arrives
Nintendo has pushed Nintendo Switch 2 to version 23.0.0 in Japan, and the headline change is Variable Refresh Rate support in docked mode. Japan gets the update first, with other regions likely not far behind, and some Nintendo Switch 2 owners may also need to update the dock firmware. On a compatible TV, VRR lets the screen track a game’s frame rate, which helps cut down on tearing and those little hitches during play. It also marks a course correction from Nintendo, which had advertised docked VRR before launch, then restricted the feature to handheld mode and later removed that wording.
This doesn’t seem to be universal support, though. So far it looks more like a whitelist than a system-wide feature, and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is the only game confirmed at the moment. Even so, more demanding third-party Nintendo Switch 2 games could see a real benefit if publishers decide to patch them.
If you mostly play docked on a screen that supports VRR, this Nintendo Switch 2 update is worth downloading. Even more so with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake reportedly set for November 5, 2026 at 60fps. VRR isn’t there to rescue a bad frame rate, but it can make brief drops in busier scenes a lot less noticeable, and it gives Nintendo some breathing room while it patches, tests, and certifies the feature.
You can download Nintendo Switch 2 update 23.0.0 in Japan now. Digital Foundry’s John Linneman says the 60Hz VRR range appears to be around 40 to 60Hz, which is wider than PlayStation 5’s 48 to 60Hz and closer to Xbox. How much this patch really matters will depend on whether bigger Nintendo exclusives support it, Zelda in particular.
Author: Emmanuel Bosque
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