The Nintendo Switch 2 has made a significant impact since its release, but when it comes to supporting Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) in docked mode, things get a bit tricky.
While technically feasible, the challenges surrounding its implementation are far from simple.
During a recent episode of Digital Foundry’s podcast, the tech experts tackled a question from a fan regarding the Switch 2’s dock and its inability to support VRR while docked. They clarified that the dock’s authentication chip, which is responsible for verifying the connection before output begins, isn’t to blame. The real culprit lies in the complex conversion process from DisplayPort to HDMI through USB-C, a challenge that even the Steam Deck faces.
While Digital Foundry believes that docked VRR could be technically feasible, the hurdles to make it a seamless plug-and-play feature, as console gamers expect, are considerable. These obstacles include hardware limitations and the inherent complexities in achieving smooth VRR performance without requiring too much tweaking from developers or players.
Another point of discussion was the lack of 40 FPS support in many Nintendo Switch 2 launch titles. Despite the 120 Hz panel making this possible, Digital Foundry noted that few games would benefit from it at this time. However, with the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 already embracing 40 FPS mode, it seems that more games could follow suit in the future. Still, achieving a stable 40 FPS without VRR might prove to be a difficult challenge for developers, especially if the VRR situation remains unresolved.
The Nintendo Switch 2 offers impressive performance and features but comes with its own set of limitations when it comes to certain advanced display technologies. It remains to be seen whether future updates or hardware revisions will address these issues.