Sony has revealed that the PlayStation 5 console will finally get support for Variable Refresh Rate later this year via a coming firmware update.
The update will ensure PS5 owners will enjoy VRR games with smoother, tear-free graphics and lower input lag, living up to one of the main promises of the console.
Sony said in a statement that it will release VRR through a firmware update “in the coming months”.
“On HDMI 2.1-compatible TVs and PC monitors, VRR dynamically syncs the refresh rate of the display to the PS5 console’s graphical output,” Sony’s SVP of Platform Experience Hideaki Nishino said in a statement. “This enhances visual performance for PS5 games by minimizing or eliminating visual artifacts, such as frame pacing issues and screen tearing. Gameplay in many PS5 titles feels smoother as scenes render instantly, graphics look crisper, and input lag is reduced.”
Sony also revealed that VRR will be able to be applied to PS5 games that do not run at an unlocked frame rate, meaning it will work with titles that don’t officially support it. Users will have to apply this manually. However, while it may improve the quality of some games, Sony warned it may also result in unexpected visual effects. If that happens, it says users can simply switch VRR off.
“Please note that results may vary depending on the TV you’re using and game you’re playing,” Sony said. “As we get closer to the feature’s release, we’ll share more details, including some of the games that will enable VRR support through a game patch."
The firmware update will at last ensure the PS5 reaches parity with Microsoft’s Xbox Series S and Series X consoles, which have had VRR support for some time. VRR has also been supported on PCs via Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync for a number of years.
While PS5 users will still likely have to wait a while for VRR, Sony did push out a new update this week that enables auto-switching into and out of Game Mode on HDMI 2.1 TVs.
The support for Auto Low-Latency Mode, which Sony refers to as Auto Genre Picture Mode on the PS5, makes it possible for the console and TV to talk to each other, so they can auto-switch into and out of the TV’s game mode. This will reduce latency, making the TV feel more responsive, without any manual intervention on behalf of the gamer. The Auto Genre Picture Mode will engage automatically as soon as the TV detects a game.
To benefit, PS5 owners must have a TV that supports ALLM. More information in the video, below:
