Nintendo Switch 2 Firmware 23.0.0 Finally Adds VRR and Major Features

Nintendo’s latest Switch 2 firmware introduces docked VRR alongside system transfers, improved Game Chat, Mii features, and other quality-of-life upgrades.

Nintendo has issued Switch 2 system firmware version 23.0.0, bringing an alarming amount of new features and upgrades to the gadget. System updates for the Nintendo Switch are generally aimed at fixing the platform’s stability, but this one is a little different with a handful of important improvements like docked Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support.

VRR makes compatible screens adjust their refresh rate dynamically to match the frame rate of the game. This can make games feel smoother when their performance fluctuates, reducing the noticeable jolts caused by frame rate drops. Nintendo announced VRR support for the Switch 2, as well as 4K and 120 FPS before launch, but the docked VRR feature was not available when the system launched.

With version 23.0.0, VRR is now supported in TV mode if both the game program and connected television support it. Nintendo also said the Switch 2 dock will have an update to work. That means that owners will need to update both the console and the dock to take advantage of the new features.

The improvement could be especially advantageous for games that target 60 FPS but cannot maintain it constantly. VRR doesn't prevent frame-rate dropouts, but it can smooth out the visual transition when performance transitions between frame rates. This should make the fluctuations between 50 and 60 FPS a bit less annoying for displays that are compatible.

Switch 2 firmware 23.0.0 adds most requested display features.

This is especially relevant as VRR has become a regular feature on next-gen consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The Switch 2 will already have the advantage of technologies like DLSS that allow developers to do more ambitious ports and improve graphic performance, which makes the lack of docked VRR more painful.

The update will now enable complete system transfers between two Switch 2 consoles. Previously, customers could transfer information from the original Switch to the Switch 2, but version 23.0.0 now allows data to be moved directly from one Switch 2 device to another. This includes save data and screenshots, so it’s a helpful feature for anyone moving to a new platform.

This is especially timely, given the upcoming Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 gadget. Owners who get the special system will now be able to simply transfer their existing information from their current Switch 2, rather than needing to use the old ways of transfer. It also makes it easy for households that have multiple consoles to share data between them.

Nintendo has also made a few tweaks to Game Chat. Users may now browse past conversations they participated in on the chat list, get into a new discussion without having to first pick friends, and easily resize the chat screen using the C button option. These changes make Game Chat a lot easier to use.

Game Chat is more flexible, with easier joining, recent chats, and controls.

Instead of having to line up each participant before they can enter a room, users can start a chat and ask people to join after the fact. You can also favorite recent chats so you can go back to the same groups more easily. There are also some minor changes to accessibility and settings. Game Chat Text-to-Speech and Voice-to-Text communication now support Portuguese.

Nintendo has also changed the audio settings process so that it remembers your TV sound selections for each TV you use separately. The video output information menu has also been expanded to enable customers to see more complete information about the capabilities of their connected display, such as available video signals and refresh rate. There’s also now a dedicated VRR setting in the display settings menu.

Another interesting addition is Miis. You may now create a QR code for your Mii and share it with others. This allows the Mii to be imported into another system. Nintendo also re-added background music to the Mii editing screen, giving a small taste of the old-school system menu feel that prior Nintendo systems used to possess.

Nintendo brings back a little Wii nostalgia with new Mii background music.

But for longstanding Nintendo fans, the Mii music element is particularly important. While this update doesn’t currently bring music back to other parts of the system, such as the eShop, the fact that it’s in the Mii editor could be a sign that Nintendo’s trialing more personalization across the system.

Firmware 23.0.0 additionally improves the use of Handheld Boost Mode. Once you turn on the function in settings, it’s instantly available from the Quick Settings menu by holding down the Home button. Handheld Boost Mode enables suitable native Switch games to operate at a higher performance level, which could result in an improvement in the resolution and frame rate but will also consume more battery power.

Also, Nintendo has improved the virtual game card features. If a virtual game card is nontransferable because the other console is offline, the owner of the program can now temporarily access the game using an online license. It's still a bit of a tough skill, but it does open up more possibilities in getting paid software on different systems.

Finally, the upgrade improves playtime tracking for the same software on many platforms. Time spent playing the same game on many systems may now be pooled, and recently played games are shown in chronological order. Nintendo also adds the usual bug fixes and general system stability improvements.

The highlight is definitely the docked VRR support, particularly for those customers who regularly play demanding games on their televisions. But the new features, such as the additions to Game Chat, system transfers, virtual game cards, Handheld Boost Mode, Mii functionality, and play-time tracking, make the update far more than a simple stability update.

All in all, Switch 2 firmware 23.0.0 is one of the biggest updates thus far for the device. For Switch 2 users, the update is yet another step toward upgrading the system over its generation, with VRR finally addressing one of the platform’s most glaring technological shortcomings.