Nintendo has released system update version 23.0.0 for the Switch 2, adding several new features to the console. The biggest change is support for VRR output in TV mode, a feature that was not available when the system launched.
VRR, or Variable Refresh Rate, allows a compatible display to adjust its refresh rate to match the rate at which a game is producing frames. Nintendo says the feature works when both the game and TV support VRR.
There is one additional requirement: the Switch 2 dock also needs to be updated before VRR can be used in TV mode.
Full data transfers between Switch 2 consoles
Version 23.0.0 also adds a complete data transfer option between two Nintendo Switch 2 systems.
The new feature allows users to move their data to another Switch 2, including save data and screenshots. A new option for transferring everything to another Switch 2 has also been added to the system settings.
This should make moving to another Switch 2 considerably more straightforward for owners who are replacing or upgrading their console.
More changes in version 23.0.0
The update also contains a number of smaller changes across the system. GameChat receives several adjustments, including easier access to previous chats and a new option for changing the screen size during a chat.
Nintendo has also added more options to the Virtual Game Card menu and expanded accessibility support with Brazilian Portuguese text-to-speech options.
The Mii editor gets a couple of additions as well. Users can now create a QR code for their Mii, while background music can be played while editing a character. The update includes music options associated with several older Nintendo systems.
There are also changes to TV audio settings, video output information and the way handheld mode boost can be controlled. Nintendo says the update additionally includes fixes and general stability improvements.
A surprising time for the update
The update also arrives just one day after Nintendo's September Direct and shortly after the Zelda 40th Anniversary presentation. Nintendo did not announce version 23.0.0 during either presentation, making the release a bit of a surprise.
The timing is also interesting because Nintendo is preparing to release a special Zelda-themed Switch 2 later this year. The new data transfer feature could make moving to another Switch 2 easier for owners, although Nintendo has not said that the two are connected.
For Switch 2 owners, however, the two biggest additions are clear: VRR is now available when playing through a TV, and complete data transfers between Switch 2 consoles are supported.
Webmastahhh is the creator of Mastanet, a gaming and technology website where he shares news, reviews, guides and personal insights about games, hardware, software and the future of digital entertainment.
