Nintendo Switch 2 System Update 23.0.0 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Nintendo has released System Update 23.0.0 for the Switch 2, also updating the original Switch's firmware, in a release notable for adding Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support in TV Mode. This is a significant addition for docked play, as VRR allows compatible games and televisions to synchronise output to match the console's rendering speed, reducing screen tearing and stuttering.
The update also brings a "complete data transfer" feature allowing full transfers, including save data and screenshots, between two Switch 2 consoles, plus a background music option added to the Mii editor. Settings have also been tweaked so players can temporarily use an online licence to play a game if a virtual game card cannot be transferred from an offline console, though this is restricted to the original purchaser. Note that VRR requires an update to the Switch 2 Dock itself to function, and full English patch notes were still pending at the time of writing.
- Switch 2 update 23.0.0 adds VRR support for docked TV play
- New "complete data transfer" feature moves all data between two Switch 2s
- Mii editor gains background music; requires updated dock for VRR
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Nintendo regularly issues system updates for its consoles, and the Switch 2 (released alongside continued support for the original Switch) receives these periodically to add features, fix bugs and improve performance. Update 23.0.0 is the latest such release, and it stands out for introducing Variable Refresh Rate support, a display technology already common on PCs and other consoles that helps games run more smoothly on compatible televisions.
Nintendo is the key player here, as the sole maker of the console and the one issuing the update, though its effectiveness also depends on third parties: games need to support the feature, and televisions need to be compatible for players to notice any difference. The update matters because it touches on how the hardware performs during everyday play, and because Nintendo continues to roll out meaningful changes to the Switch 2 well after its initial launch, shaping how the console evolves over time.