Sony plans to release a Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) feature for the PlayStation 5 in the coming months. The long-awaited VRR feature synchronizes a screen’s refresh rate with the PS5’s graphics output, reducing visual artifacts, screen tearing, and frame-pacing issues. You can use the new VRR feature even with games that don’t officially support it. The news comes like Sony announced the availability of new PS5 and PS4 software updates.
“Gameplay in many PS5 titles feels smoother because scenes are rendered immediately, graphics look sharper and input lag is reduced,” says the PlayStation team in a blog post† “Previously released PS5 games can be fully optimized for VRR via a game patch, and future games may include VRR support at launch.”
Sony says it will also allow PS5 owners to apply VRR to games that don’t officially support it. “This feature can improve video quality for some games,” explains Sony. “If this produces unexpected visual effects, you can disable this option at any time.” A second option to apply VRR to unsupported games is available in the screen and video settings on a PS5, and can be toggled in addition to enabling VRR itself.
This can be a great way to improve games like Elden RingThat launched with performance issues in the PS5 version of the game. Sony hasn’t given an exact release date for VRR beyond the “coming months,” but the company has publicly tested its previous system software updates, so testing is likely to begin soon.
Sony is also releasing new PS5 and PS4 software updates today, including the ability to create or join open or closed parties on PlayStation consoles. The PS5 also gets some UI improvements for the Game Base and Trophy maps, and mono audio for headphones. PS5 owners in the US or UK can also test the new voice command feature that lets you find and open games or apps, and control media playback with your voice.