Sony just shared an update via the PlayStation Blog regarding the most awaited feature on the PS5 – variable refresh rate (VRR). The VRR feature is slated to be in one of the firmware updates in the “coming months”, according to Hideaki Nishino, PlayStation’s Senior Vice President of Platform Experience in a blog post.
“We’re also pleased to share that Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) is planned to release on PS5 in the coming months,” Hideaki wrote. “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. 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. Previously released PS5 games can be fully optimized for VRR through a game patch and future games may include VRR support at launch.”
PS5 VRR Support has been a hot topic lately and with the recent announcements at CES 2022, Sony might have dropped a hint that the much-desired feature may be coming to PlayStation 5 users soon.
The PlayStation 5 may be an impressive piece of hardware, with the console itself selling over 13.4 million units as of the last quarter of 2021, but it has yet to deliver on all the features that truly made it next generation.
One such feature the console has yet to officially support at launch is 8K resolution or variable refresh rate, or VRR, for short.
What is Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)?
With variable refresh rate or VRR, you get a smooth, artifact-free picture in both offline and online games.
The purpose of having VRR or variable refresh rates is to eliminate screen tearing while gaming. Screen tearing is a visual glitch where the TV image stutters mid-frame before returning to normal. VRR fixes this by synchronizing the display’s refresh rate with the console’s. Because the console or PC is the pace-setter, there is no tearing.
The screen tearing occurs when your TV’s image refresh rate is out of sync with your console or PC’s graphics card. So, for example, the top half of the screen shows one frame and the bottom the next.
TVs don’t instantly refresh their entire screen image. A display driver rapidly scans the screen from top to bottom, updating each pixel’s state, but sometimes just too fast for our eyes and brains to notice until a visual aberration occurs.
Tearing is visible when using a 60Hz TV and the game’s framerate fluctuates between 45 to 60fps. It’s especially noticeable in fast-paced games like First Person Shooters. In-game, a quick turn can result in a huge difference in on-screen information.
Does PS5 have VRR?
Currently, PS5 does not have VRR support. Although VRR has been available on Xbox consoles since April 2018, the absence of this feature on the PS5 is strange.
However, those days may be coming to end as a new report has surfaced that seems to indicate that VRR support is coming through a firmware update. First reported by wccftech.com, Youtuber Vincent Teoh over on HDTVTest Youtube Channel reported that the new Sony TVs, which are launching this Spring, will support VRR at launch, coinciding with the imminent arrival of VRR on the PS5 via a firmware update.
Earlier at CES 2022, Sony announced its latest Bravia XR TV lineup. From this announcement, we have gotten word about the imminent update. The latest models boast a number of improvements while offering a smarter viewing experience. The 8K mini LED, OLED, and LED TV’s are the ones PlayStation 5 users should be keeping an eye on.
Sony has yet to announce anything yet about PS5 update, as everything we’re getting now is from the television side of Sony. Sony did confirm that the PlayStation 5 hardware supports VRR through HDMI 2.1, but the feature itself cannot be accessible outside of a future firmware update.
When Will PS5 VRR Support Be available?
According to the recent blog post on PlayStation Blog, PS5 VRR will be available in the “coming months” according to Hideaki Nishino, PlayStation’s Senior Vice President of Platform Experience.
We do not have an exact date of the firmware update as to when VRR will be incorporated on the PS5. All we need is for Sony to confirm the update, and PS5 users will be able to enjoy 8K gaming from the comforts of their couch.
Check back with us soon with news about the PS5 firmware update.