Ubisoft has confirmed that it is using an unconventional rendering technique to make variable refresh rate work at 30 frames per second on the Nintendo Switch 2, a move that could influence how future games run on the platform.
The company first hinted at the approach earlier this month when discussing the Switch 2 version of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. New details have now emerged through an interview with developers involved in the port, shedding light on how Ubisoft overcame hardware limitations tied to VRR behavior at lower refresh rates.
How Ubisoft Enables VRR Below 40 Hz on Switch 2
According to Ubisoft developers speaking to FRVR, the solution lies inside the company’s Anvil Engine. Rendering technical architect Nicolas Lopez, rendering project lead Sebastian Daigneault, and engine project lead Bruno Champoux explained that the engine presents the same rendered frame twice during a single refresh cycle.
This method effectively doubles the reported frame rate from the system’s perspective. While the game is still running at a real 30 FPS, the console sees a 60 Hz signal. That allows VRR to remain active even though it normally disengages at refresh rates below roughly 40 Hz.
The result is smoother frame pacing without requiring the game to actually render more frames. Ubisoft confirmed that this approach is already live in Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Star Wars Outlaws on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Internally, the company refers to the technique as a compatibility workaround rather than a performance boost. Visual output remains unchanged, but motion consistency improves by avoiding VRR dropouts that typically cause stutter or uneven frame delivery at 30 FPS.
Ubisoft has also integrated this solution directly into the Anvil Engine, meaning future games built on the engine can adopt the same method without extensive rework. Developers confirmed that additional Ubisoft titles targeting the Switch 2 are expected to benefit from this optimization.
Beyond its own engine, Ubisoft is working directly with Nintendo to expand VRR support at lower frame rates across more games. While no timeline was shared, the collaboration suggests that similar techniques could become more widely supported at the platform level rather than remaining engine specific.
For Switch 2 owners, this development signals a clearer path for technically demanding games to run at stable frame rates without sacrificing visual smoothness. For Ubisoft, it strengthens the company’s ability to bring larger console experiences to Nintendo hardware with fewer compromises.
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