Variable Refresh Rate, or VRR as it’s better known, has become the new PlayStation hot button problem – and Sony’s only got itself to blame. The feature was announced for the PlayStation 5 all the way back at launch, with the Japanese giant promising it would be added in a “future system software update” – it’s even mentioned in a bullet point on the back of the system’s box!
But, while some trailer small-print had suggested it may be added early this year, the next PS5 firmware update beta – which won’t even be pushed out to everyone for a number of months – makes no mention of it at all. Now it’s worth keeping in mind that it could be sneakily slipped into the beta last minute, or it could yet emerge as part of the final version of the system software.
However, the feature is conspicuously absent from Sony’s big PS Blog post on the subject, and fans are beginning to feel a bit frustrated. While you will need a relatively new television to take advantage of VRR, the idea is that it can reduce the appearance of screen-tearing and framerate dips, and has already proved a boon on rival boxes.
The problem here is PlayStation’s utter lack of communication on the subject. It’s been well over a year since this feature was announced, and the company has failed to provide a roadmap of how development is progressing and when we can expect it. Understandably, this has prompted some irritation among early adopters, as evidenced by comments on communities like Reddit and ResetEra.
With the way Sony runs its business these days, we wouldn’t be surprised if VRR suddenly emerged in this week’s beta test, despite not being mentioned on the PS Blog – and equally, we wouldn’t be shocked if the company went another year blissfully ignoring it. There’s a lot to love about the PS5 right now – the software schedule is insane this month – but a little less cloak and daggers secrecy regarding previously announced features would certainly be appreciated.
[source pushsquare.com]
Comments 129
Anything to reduce framerate drops will be great and will be needed as more ps5 only games start to appear. Hopefully it will be on ps5 by end of the year
A company? Not responding to fan's worries?
Just another Tuesday for a Nintendo fan.
If it wasn't a feature planned from the start then it might take a while. I mean, even the SSD expansion took some months and it was a planned feature.
VRR is not even working right on my 2021 Bravia TV. Good luck getting it this year on PS5.
VRR is a really overblown topic when it comes to console gaming. The majority of the userbase doesn't even have the proper TV to accommodate it. Just like 1440p, VRR is something only a very small percentage of players actually care about it.
how about themes , web browser , friend activity & posts , playroom , live from playstation , folders , etc … all the features the ps4 has instead ??
"The problem here is PlayStation’s utter lack of communication on the subject."
Lack of communication has been a pretty consistent issue with Sony for over two years now.
No VRR. No 1440p. No Bloodborne at 60fps. No hope.
Remember how long it took for us to get external HDD support? I feel something like this will be another year or so off.
Man, I remember when Sony added external HDD support to the PS4. It was the greatest thing. Good times.
Sony is in charge of pushing it to both my Bravia and PS5, hopefully the two will be around the same time.
And once you get VRR... only a really small portion of the player-base will be able/care to use it.
Honestly, I'm not even sure if most know what VRR is . The same way most don't know what NFT are.
Not really an issue I’m too bothered about to be honest. I’d much rather they added the ability to do ANYTHING other than stare at that timer bar when moving games between the internal and external hard drives.
People can say it isn’t an important issue but I know many gamers who use LG TVs and VRR is even available on the last model generation of their TVs. I have both a PS5 and an Xbox Series X and I get pretty much all multiplatform games on Xbox just for VRR support. Heck, Dying Light 2 has an exclusive 60+ FPS mode that can hit 120 FPS on Series X just because of VRR.
There are also still so many other little issues like a PS4 version of a game that keeps trying to reinstall when I put the disc in for something that’s been upgraded on PS5. It all adds up to a more frustrating experience than it should be.
Sony has great games but they really need a swift kick in the ass when it comes to the technology side of things.
I recently got a 48 LG C1 which has VRR, but I currently only have a ps4 pro at the moment anyway. If when I get a ps5 (if they add the feature) then I will look forward to trying it. For those that do use VRR does it actually make much difference? I have never been that sensitive to framerates to be honest, unless the game is a stuttering mess like just cause 3 for example 😂
@awp69 It is weird that things aren't as reliable on the system software front like they used to be. Besides the obvious reason of having a lot of great games, reliability is another reason why I happily continued to side with PlayStation from when I got the PS3 all the way through the PS4 generation. Rarely did things not work exactly the way they should 99% of the time, outside of a strange network glitch on the PS4 Pro a few years or so ago where it would give an error message once it connected to PSN. Then it would just randomly lose connection for no reason at times.
Honestly, outside of at launch when installing games from disc wouldn't install properly if you hit the Install button like you naturally would think to do, my only real critical issue I have with it is it takes a good minute or two to actually start installing games from disc or detect that there's an update for a game. Well, that and not being able to check for updates for games if they are installed on an external drive and you haven't played them recently since you can only physically check for an update if it's on the row of games on the home screen. Once a week it decides not to connect to the network, but a simple restart fixes that, and it boots up so quickly that I can let it slide.
I'm still really enjoying my time with the PS5, but it is still weird that it's not as reliable as past UIs at this stage.
So disgruntled resetera posters double as news now?
I don't have a TV that can do that so the lack of this feature doesn't matter to me.
@rpg2000 "And once you get VRR... only a really small portion of the player-base will be able/care to use it."
With that attitude Sony shouldn't bother with BC because only a small percentage will use it, they shouldn't bother with the Kraken compression cause really only the people visiting gaming sites will care or notice.
Oh they shouldn't bother adding a new features either cause the vast majority of the public aren't exactly clamoring for new features when they buy their PS5s, they just want to start the game and play so Sony should just leave everything as is 🙂
Yeah, I’ve got a high end LG and I’m ready. It may be me but it feels like Sony kinda drags a**.
@TurboTom I’ve used VRR since 2015 when I first got a GSync monitor for my PC. It makes a massive difference when the framerate is variable as it eliminates the stutter you get from miss timed frames if VSync is enabled, along with eliminating screen tearing if VSync is disabled. If a game is struggling to hit 60, running in the mid 50s, having VRR will essentially run your display in the mid 50s while those frames are being displayed. This you can really feel. VRR is one of the main selling points for me in a display.
Headline really needs 'A few' added to the start of it.
VRR is great. I bought a 4K tv to the exact specs to use my new console to its fullest. And this is a feature they said would come and the consoles been out a year.
@CielloArc it was a fine print on the box so it's been planned for a long time.
This is why I'm buying all my multi platform games on my series x. VRR is a game changer and has done wonders for farcry, assassins creed, dying light 2. Really helps.
@GamingVeteran I get where you're coming from with 1440P. But if you're buying a $500 console which main selling points are 4k,120hz, and VRR. I highly doubt you also don't have plan on buying TV that accommodate this features...
@rjc-32
Thanks for the information, hopefully Sony will add the feature for ps5 them. Although I haven't bothered trying to get a ps5 yet though.
Well the Update is still not out on Sony TVs too lol even tho it was supposed to be out "end of January". Is the PS5 even able to handle VRR? The HDMI bandwith is way lower than on XSX (32 gbps vs 40)
It’s use is currently vastly overstated. I’ve had a PS5 since Launch day and I don’t recall any game failing to hit a locked 60 FPS. I understand RE Village can drop into the low 50 ‘s and potentially 40’s using the ray-tracing mode but I played on the locked 60FPS mode with no Ray-tracing.
Maybe all the mediocre Ubisoft games that I skip are the games you need it for.
Most TV's don't even support it like 120hz only the expensive TV's support it
I guess you need to complain about something.
"Variable Refresh Rate, or VRR as it’s better known, has become the new PlayStation hot button problem." I think you are being a bit melodramatic here..again..its not a problem at all and i'm sure it will launch when its ready or maybe you would like sony to release it when it obviously has some issues so you have another negative article to publish..
@Northern_munkey I swear, sometimes this is what it reads like.
I doubt it’s as big an issue as you make out. The vast majority of people don’t even have a TV capable. I do, and I don’t even care. It’s really a sub group of a sub group that know and want it, a tiny fraction. I have other things i’d much rather Sony focus on.
@naruball well judging by the comments so far nobody is that bothered by its abscence...
I have a bigger issue with not being able to do local backups.
And its just a vocal minority which Push will go on and on about.
@awp69
I have that (last model of) LG TV. So I could use VRR. But I honestly don’t care. VRR doesn’t magically increase frame rates as you say, it just makes bad performance LOOK better/more consistent, it doesn’t actually allow the game to run faster at all. I really think you overestimate the value of the tech. It’s best use is perhaps in reducing screen tearing, which isn’t really an issue (yet) on PS5, and THE PERCEPTION OF stuttering in badly optimised games
I agree they need to fix the PS5 keep trying to instal both copies of a game., it’s incredibly annoying. All through my Lost Judgment playthrough I was having to constantly delete the PS4 version.
@awp69 VRR does not make games run faster. What it does, is improving average FPS value, which I consider a misleading metric. The precise metric should be the time to render a frame, and it should have max value to indicate how far console is falling behind the expected result.
When a console isn't able to render a frame in an allowed tome slot, the next frame will be delayed. And that's where VRR comes into play. Without VRR the next frame will be delayed for a set period of time, even if it is ready before that. With VRR the next frame will be rendered almost without a delay, thus making frame drops less visible. Average FPS goes up due to less waiting, but the actual time to render frames never changes. If your console struggles, it keeps struggling.
@IonMagi PS5 HDMI bandwidth is limited programatically. And VRR doesn't require more bandwidth.
Most people don’t even have a 4K TV, never mind a TV that can use VRR. Most people don’t care because it is not an issue that impacts them. I’d much rather PS5 games hit 60fps - which they do all the time. Sony have got things they need to do but this isn’t one of them - at least not immediately.
Just console war nonsense really. A lot of this is fuelled by people pointing at apparent deficiencies of different platforms and making things into larger deals than they really are.
@Juanalf Kraken is a difference for every player though smaller installs are for everyone a VRR tv yeah not so much.
@Floki I disagree, I bought my ps5 for the games. Like most ps5 owners these feature won't mean much. It the niche of gamers who are really into the tech specs that get it and know what's what with all this stuff. The majority just want to play games 😀👍
I imagine the percentage of console gamers with viable TVs is low. Many console gamers are not going to spend on these TVs for the same reason they don't buy gaming pcs. They get budget TVs and budget gaming platforms (consoles) and only a few games (meaning they don't buy enough games for the "pc games are cheaper" argument to work either. Let's not forget why so many people are console-only gamers.
@Would_you_kindly Only expensive TVs support 120Hz at 4K. My 2017 LG OLED supports 120Hz at 1080p
VRR is only available on Expensive/Select TVs also most of us gamers requested for higher frame rates like 60fps and it’s possible majority of game console owners still plays on 2K/1080p TVs and some on 4K Budget TVs that have no VRR maybe that’s why Sony is not to focus to add VRR on PS5 right away.
@Medic_Alert
That attitude you have and from Sony saw them
Slip way past third in the TV market especially to Samsung and LG, who’s TVs have had VRR, ALLM, 4 HDMI 2:1 ports for a couple of years.
I purchased an LG C1 and a lot have instead of say a Sony A80J because of VRR, ALLM and 4 HDMI 2:1 ports.
Sony are arse holes when it comes to TVs and updates, I hope Sony gaming division is not catching the Sony TV attitude disease.
@Bagwag82 What games? You mean all the games that are also releasing on PS4. No body just bought the PS5 for games. They bought it cause the hardware makes the games better, and this is a feature makes the games better.
PS5 no VRR, Farcry 6, screen tearing, ugly and bad.
Xbox series x yes VRR, farcry 6 no screen tearing, smooth as butter.
Sony you don’t care that much about your customers do you really.
@viktorcode Well whats the reason then that the PS5 still doesnt have this Feature? It will be 2 years after the PS5 release until the next System Update is releasing since this one will be in Beta for a few months at least
@MisterXpoSay No lol, you get LG TVs <1k€ that have VRR, ALLM and so on
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@MisterXpoSay nah
@JohnPliskin11 charming!
If it comes, it comes. It's not really a game changer.
All about actual games and Sony have some bangers releasing very very soon. The Xbots and Nintendo crowd can be just as bad, don't dare think otherwise.
@Col_McCafferty it IS a game changer and it’s also a very old technology. Sony needs to just admit that the PS5 can’t do it. And fck HFW Elden ring is gonna smash that game both critically and sales wise.
Sony SUCKS at anything that isn’t directly video game software.
How much does a TV with VRR cost?
I’d rather games to be reasonably optimised at 60fps. I don’t need more.
It’s like an excuse for poor optimisation these days.
But yeah. Im not surprised PushSpin is on it 🙄
Edit
Like I said, I can’t wait for VRR so some people stop moaning about it being pointless to me.
To be honest, as a Series X owner, it hasn’t been vital up to this point. Very few games have made the most of it as most cross gen games have held a steady enough frame rate. It’s been a bonus but not game changing.
But that’s changing now and we’re getting games like Dying Light 2 that have huge potential benefits with VRR. The PS5 versions of these games simply play worse because of its absence. Needs implementing asap
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@JJ2 it’s not crazy expensive. You can get a fantastic LG Oled with full hdmi 2.1 compatibility for 1200€ (55 inch).
@JohnPliskin11
Your very close to insulting me my friend.
Be careful with people who think different than you.
To not tolerate others opinions or taste is getting very close to being a fanatic you know.
My preferred toy my @ss
Have a look in the mirror
VRR is also still missing off Sony X90J and the XR65X94J which I have... Still waiting for the update...
@JohnPliskin11
I didn’t say it’s an excuse for dev. It’s an excuse for analysis
I am a stock holder in these gaming companies and didn't even realize it.
But really. The PS5 in all likelihood will have a prolonged gen because of COVID & the fact the vast majority cannot even buy these consoles freely. The vast majority of games out are cross gen, so VRR is really just a talking point for fanboys. As most people's 4K TV will not even probably support VRR. The thing what I find funny about this is that it puts extra cost on customers who shouldn't have to buy TVs that support VRR, because developers put out unstable buggy products.
@Reeneman
Thank you. That’s too expensive to me
@banacheck
Exactly.
But express yourself and say what you think gets people insulting you here.
It would be nice to have, but honestly I completely forget about VRR until an article like this comes along.
Pinning games, as basic as that sounds, was the one thing I wanted from them. That feature is coming.
I can't complain.
Why are we relying on it?. I do have a VRR TV . I had it before the PS5 launch. Let's be honest here. Most PS5 native apps have been super optimised and lock a very good 60fps. VRR should never be an excuse for poor optimised games....
Even on my SX games have generally been locked at 60fps and even with dips and VRR off you have to be super sensitive to notice as the CPUs in these new consoles are superior to last gen.
Of all my new gen console owning friends only three are using a fully 2.1 spec TV with VRR and ALLM... I also go into customers homes with my job and hardly any of them have a good 4K HDR TV let alone VRR...
Make of it as you will but on PS5 I've never found the lack of it an issue so far...
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@JJ2 that LG OLED he’s talking about, while great, is nearer the top of the line. Plenty of TVs with VRR support that are much cheaper.
E.g. In the £500 range like the Samsung UE50AU9000 (where do they come up with these names! Lol) 50 inches (smaller models are even cheaper, 43” around £400) though its LED not OLED and doesn’t have full hdmi 2.1 for 120fps at 4K (honestly this range of consoles will struggle with that so not a huge deal imho)
To be clear: I’m not recommending this TV, I don’t know enough about it other than specs, just stating those.
In reality this generation VRR could be most useful for having a mode that balances the current 30fps graphics mode and 60fps performance modes. They could have an additional 45ish FPS mode that is the sweet spot but still appear smooth.
120fps isn’t realistic this gen unless you want to turn all the graphics down. Good for competition, bad for everything else.
@JohnPliskin11 wow, so you just made a new account merely to troll.
How wonderful!
😒
@JohnPliskin11 Nope. First party games is why playstation is awesome. Negative Nancys be damned.
My TV can't even do both HDR and 4k at the same time, I have to choose, let alone VRR, but games on my PlayStation still look great. It was a top-of-the-line Bravia back in January 2017. I'm not going to go out and replace it just because there's something newer and shinier. I might replace it when I next move house if I want something larger or smaller for the room size.
This is a fairly common attitude to electronics, and keeping on with the new and shiny is just creating mountains of e-waste. Most people don't give a flying fvck whether VRR is enabled now, as long as it's there by the time they upgrade anyway.
@themightyant
Thank you for explanation.
I honestly think customers should not have to look for VRR features in TV to be able to enjoy gaming. Games should be optimised reasonably enough to work on any Modern TV. I have a large good value TV that I’m happy about. It’s not hdmi 2.1 and definitely not VRR. I’m not going to change any time soon.
@JJ2 I agree, but I didn't say otherwise. Games should always still be optimised for any modern TV's. Usually at 30fps and 60fps but they could ALSO be optimised for TV's that have other features like VRR or 4K 120fps (more 40fps modes please devs!) It absolutely doesn't have to be either/or there can be BOTH.
Honestly I wouldn't worry, games still look great on older tv's, there are nice additions on newer sets like OLED, HDMI 2.1 and VRR but it's still relatively costly, especially if you want ALL those features.
IMHO that extra cash it's much better spent elsewhere for most gamers. i.e. more games, better headphones/audio, or even a Series S and Game Pass. I'd recommend ALL of those before a new TV unless you are specifically a visual enthusiast!
@themightyant I could't disagree more..A high tech tv made me enjoy films and games in a way i was missing all those years..even my old og ps4 looked stunning with just the tv upscaling.
@JohnPliskin11 I'm definitely not a fan boy, and I don't think anyone here who is willing to listen to and respect the opinions of others is a moron.
I just don't really think about VRR.
You're allowed to think about it.
I'm allowed to not think about it.
No harm done.
Meh, if Sony didn't give anyone anything to moan about, it wouldn't be Sony would it,so they release vrr, makes me wonder what would be next.
I get that it's not something that all users can use but almost all new TV's support VVR and it is transformative once you have it. The lack of VVR and Atmos support means all my 3rd party games will be bought on Xbox this generation. Having VVR is a big a deal as having 60fps once you become use to it. Its been a must have on PC for the last 8 years or more.
@JohnPliskin11 so you're saying people should whinge and moan about things they don't really care about ? Its the way of the world these days I suppose ,thats why real issues are washed over because people are too busy crying over something that they really have no interest in,sony better watch out ,people will be screaming for them to be cancelled soon.
@TooBarFoo yeah thats all well and good and I suppose everyone would love a brand new TV, but the thing is, the worlds going to ***** ,cost of living rocketing,fuel prices are ridiculous ,wages are crap,people are stressed,thank god for Sony eh and their first class games to offer us a bit of escapism, fu*k VRR,they're giving me horizon next week,WAHOO 😁
@zebric21 It's different for everyone. Like I said if you are a visual enthusiast that may be better for you.
Though many would suggest having the upscaling turned off for gaming as it heavily impacts latency. That's the point of "Game modes" to turn off all the extra processing to get a more responsive experience.
Thought there's no wrong answers. You do you. It's not one size fits all.
@themightyant
Well yeah. Put it that way I’d rather buy the PSVR2 haha
@TooBarFoo It’s called VRR and it literally does nothing if the game can maintain a steady Framerate. If it targets 60FPS and hits it then it does nothing.
If it can’t maintain it’s target FPS then VRR doesn’t magically fix that, if it drops to the 30’s it will still feel exactly like playing a game in the 30’s. It just stop screen tearing and paces the frames correctly.
@IonMagi I guess the reason is the same as why PlayStation 4 got HDR support much later in its lifetime: it takes time to implement, and higher priority features get worked on first.
Removed - unconstructive feedback
@ChrisDeku Yep, if a game has a smooth 60fps it does nothing but if not frame pacing makes the world of difference. Pacing is more important than frame rate under 100fps. Its why you are better off capping many games at 30fps than at a unstable 60fps. I'm sure Sony first party games will perform great at 60fps but most 3rd party games don't have the same polish and for a lot of this generation we will still be choosing between a stable 30 or a unstable 60, unless you have framerate sync. This is not new or experimental where the advantage is unknown. Even budget gaming monitors have had freesync for years and its ability to give smooth gameplay has long been established. Questioning its value at this point just seems overtly defensive.
VRR support isn't coming until they have released their new line up of television's that support VRR. I genuinely thought this was common knowledge, if they release it before then there is a good chance people with ps5s will buy a TV that already has vrr support from their competitors. Once the Sony A90k releases they will push the update but thats a 42" oled something LG also have coming so it will be about £1200 easily due to how hard they are to make.Why would people wait and spend that much on a 42" oled when they can buy a 48" lg c1/cx for less now. If they released them at the same time people are more likely to buy the newer TV....
@Mariosmaster1 As someone else commented above, some Bravia TVs got the VRR Update last year already
meh. IMO my comment was neither particularly unconstructive (in context - I don't think it was any more unconstructive than all the unremoved "I thought this was a PS blog" comments whenever any writer deigns to criticise Sony or report on PC stuff), nor was it particularly unfair (mainly, I think it was perfectly fair), but do what you gotta do, guys. I accept that there's a line and I'm not the one who gets to draw it
@IonMagi Yes and it was a disaster...
VRR will come, with the PS5 Pro, only 699€
@awp69 you clearly have no clue saying that VRR will give you 120hz boost..check your facts before spreading misinformation.
@banacheck Yeah you hit the nail on the head. VRR is an extra cherry on top for series X/s owners right now. And does make a difference…but why the hell are those that are able to take advantage of it so eagerly applauding it? …rather than demanding games come out better optimised in the first place. That’s pretty odd when you think about it.
When additional tech supports different resolutions that’s one thing…any sort of reliance on additional tech to sort out your fluctuating frame rate is a completely different matter and something that we should get into the mentality that we’re paying them to fix when they ask for 60-70 for the games
At least the shortage of PS5 consoles has reduced the number of people who could potentially be upset by this. I was bothered about the idea of horizontal trophies, but they fixed that ages ago and I still don't have a PS5.
@thefourfoldroot I never said it “magically increases frame rates” but it does allow developers to unlock frame rates above what is possible on PS5. Take for instance, Dying Light 2. It has a 60+ option that’s been clocked to give up to 120 FPS. And it’s only available on Series X when VRR is enabled. It’s possible because the frame rate would be too unstable without VRR. This happens on other games as well. So yes, it can help provide better FPS.
https://www.purexbox.com/news/2022/02/dying-light-2-patch-will-enable-60fpsplus-vrr-mode-on-xbox-series-x
@zebric21 Check your facts too. Read my reply to another user right above this one. If a dev wants to open another FPS specifically due to VRR, they are free to do so. Sorry, but it’s true.
https://www.purexbox.com/news/2022/02/dying-light-2-patch-will-enable-60fpsplus-vrr-mode-on-xbox-series-x
@viktorcode I never said it “makes games run faster” but it can all devs to unlock options to get higher frame rates because they don’t have to worry about screen tearing and unstable frame rates. See my responses just above this.
https://www.purexbox.com/news/2022/02/dying-light-2-patch-will-enable-60fpsplus-vrr-mode-on-xbox-series-x
Don’t get why so many people want to argue that VRR doesn’t make a difference. Watch some Digital Foundry videos. They talk about it all the time and say things like “it’s a shame it still hasn’t been enabled on PlayStation 5”. And YES it can lead to higher frame rates if the dev enables or unlocks the FPS on Series X knowing that the higher rate will still be smooth with VRR.
https://www.purexbox.com/news/2022/02/dying-light-2-patch-will-enable-60fpsplus-vrr-mode-on-xbox-series-x
People, do your research before shrugging it off and trying to act all high and mighty that this is just a useless technology. Why do you think PC gamers have loved having it for years? Why would Sony mention it early on as a great feature soon to come to PS5 if it was a stupid thing to have?
I noticed my 2020/2021 Bravia TVs have VRR support (In HDMI settings) added. So I am assuming it is getting ready for PS5 firmware update at some point. Or maybe there is genuinely no coordination between its TV arm and PS arm.
@awp69 I think it's a more of case of how many people can even leverage VRR as opposed to what VRR does. I'm the only one amongst my group of friends (30+ ppl) that has a VRR-enabled screen. I have no issues with more technologies been implemented but I think Sony has much bigger priorities than VRR atm. I don't know how much time/resources they need to bring in VRR but there may be constraints therein. Generally for state of the art visual experiences I rely on my PC anyway.
I really love VRR on the Xbox Series X and I hope it gets implemented on the PS5 soon. Every game I play just feels smooth - even on the limited VRR I have on my Vizio MQ7 where VRR only operates between 40 - 60 Hz (no 120Hz, unfortunately).
Granted, most games on Series X and PS5 that have 60Hz darn near lock to that framerate. Still, it does iron out issues on games where they may dip down into the 50's.
For example: Tales of Arise in Resolution Mode can dip down when action heats up - I would never have known because of VRR. In fact, I only found out about it because Digital Foundry did its analysis of Tales of Arise and pointed out how VRR on Series X makes it the best way to play in Resolution Mode.
@awp69
It doesn’t improve frame rates. It can provide worked frames to view marginally quicker and can make frame stutter imperceptible. It doesn’t improve the speed at which the hardware can run the game. It’s a crutch for poor performance is all. Nothing wrong with crutches of course, having it is better than not to reduce the visual awareness of frame stutter, reduce tearing etc, but it doesn’t increase frame rate. The game feels snd responds the same with or without.
@thefourfoldroot Do you have problems reading? Once again, I never said it increases frame rates. But devs can add options to games like Dying Light 2 to allow players to play with higher frame rates because they know that VRR will allow it to smooth over drops in FPS when they occur. There’s literally an extra option on Series X that allows you to play that game up to 120 FPS, but it can only be used if you have a VRR TV.
I don't know what it is and I forgot that they ever mentioned it.
Like I said in the other thread, VRR is such a rare feature for people to be able to use at all. Monitors didn't support it until months ago, and most still don't. TVs except flagships didn't. Maybe most have it now but most people don't replace TVs that often...every 10+ years maybe. AVRs, switches, matrixes, repeaters etc still don't, and probably won't for many years. By the time most people have a total video chain that supports it, the PS6 will be aging. It's a fun flagship thing for tech enthusiasts, but not for most. Not even HT enthusiasts...they all have in-wall wiring and relay equipment that won't support it ever until they re-run everything.
@HotGoomba Introducing Mario Kart 9 Step Meal Kit. Japan Only.
@awp69
No, I do not. You just are being unclear about what you mean by “smooth over”. If you mean that it is no longer an inconsistent frame rate with all the negative gameplay repercussions that entails, then this is not correct. If you merely mean that you can’t see frame stuttering at the top ranges, and screen tearing is reduced, so playing with inconsistent framerate is a bit less of a terrible experience, then sure.
I didn't even know what it was until I opened this article! And I only opened this article because I thought it was to do with Virtual Reality
My TV isn't new enough even for UHD etc, so no doubt won't make a difference to me either way!
@jrt87 I have a g-sync monitor with my pc and most people who visit me and play the same games with me on both my pc and my consoles (paired with non-vrr TV) don't see much of a difference. Most people simply don't see the differences as important enough to fork out and get the necessary screen. Sony would be catering to a small demographic that actually cares. It's not defending Sony so much as dismissing this as a widespread concern. Most people do not consider this when deciding on Xbox or PS5. Heck most people don't even see the difference between 30 FPS and 60 FPS. That been said my my pc gaming standards are higher but that is a different demographic entirely. Also not sure your PS2 comment is fair. The difference is much more noticeable between a ps5 and a ps2 and most gamers will invest in that difference.
@jrt87 Fair point on communication. They have had some questionable communication in recent years and I can see how annoying that would be to those who bought it and were expecting it. Not a fan of 8k either and not really interested in VR.
@jrt87 The comparison to PC isn't quite fair. PC gamers haven't enjoyed VRR, specifically, at all until only handful of monitors mostly only within the past few months. PC gamers have had the option on some limited selection of monitors to have nVidia G-Sync or AMD Freesync, which accomplishes the same thing, but it's an entirely different technology to do it. I get that PC gamers have had refresh synchronization available on select hardware for a while now, but comparing VRR as a specific technology (which requires HDMI 2.1 which at the time the consoles launched exactly three televisions and zero monitors supported) which is mostly absent from PC hardware still to this day isn't quite a fair comparison. It might be more fair, then, to criticize Sony for not implementing G-Sync or Freesync for 1:1 comparison. Xbox has had Freesync since the Xbox One S, by comparison. I doubt many have been able to use it, but it's been there.
I do agree with you, though, that if they bothered to put it on the box, it should have supported it out of the box. That aspect isn't excusable. And that 8k is pointless (how many 8k tvs exist anyway?) I disagree on PSVR, though. Hard to compare a refresh synch technology only a tiny population can even use with their setup vs a stand-alone accessory that does what it needs to out of the box. Ironically, probably including VRR which makes the box claim technically true if used with PSVR2...
I bought a 65” Bravia that was supposed to support VRR along with my PS5, which was also supposed to support VRR. Over a year later and neither have VRR.
@Floki I for one am one of those gamers I speak of and I know many others like me that had never heard of VRR etc. So This wouldn't be a selling point for me. I like to play Playstation games so took the dive and was lucky to get a PS5. So I think you are wrong. PS5 or PS4 games it doesn't matter as I can now play them both on my PS5. You need to understand that not everyone is the same as you.
@MisterXpoSay I've had 2 4k lg TV's both died within 2 years so now I'm back to my 1080p bravia which I've had since 2013
Removed - trolling/baiting; user is banned
Ok not wanting to point out bad journalism on a games website - but exactly which “ps5 owners” are pondering what Sony is playing at? From the write up it appears only the writer is pondering this - if you report on a story with a headline like that you need to evidence your sources for these ps5 owners. Otherwise you are guilty of creating fake news and propaganda.
If I were to post on a news sire “many people think Coca Cola is putting poison in their cans and killing cats for fun” I’d need evidence…
Many of your readers think your writing is bad and you need to do a journalism course.
I just can't get over how they simply suppressed the save to USB/delete save file feature on the PS5. Saving to USB makes sense because they wanna profit with cloud save, but making me delete the whole game file if I wanna get rid of one individual slot? Dumb.
That is maddening we still don't have VRR after all this time!
That's why I went thru the trouble of buying a TV that supports VRR...
This is frustrating.
I'd love to know what's really going on. This topic is always a hot one — a lot of people say it's no big deal because they don't have a TV that supports it but more and more, people are getting TVs that do as the prices are coming down. It's a big deal. Really. Having VRR there to smooth out those little dips is excellent and, right now, if I had the choice, I'd choose to play games on Series X over PS5 for that reason alone, which is a shame as I love my PS5!
I wish Sony would at least communicate what's going on. Transparency is key here and always will be, especially when it's about something that should've been here from day one.
@ChrisDeku @TooBarFoo "If it can’t maintain it’s target FPS then VRR doesn’t magically fix that, if it drops to the 30’s it will still feel exactly like playing a game in the 30’s."
Close but not quite. It doesn't drop it down to 30fps, it's not as extreme as that. It will play adjust the tv to match the refresh rate with the frame rate of the signal. i.e. if the games drops to 55fps so does the tv. The TV isn't stuck at a refresh rate of 30 or 60 or 120, it has a variable refresh rate.
This gives you the impression of a smooth picture without the usual stuttering issues and you likely couldn't tell the difference between 55fps and 60fps with a VRR display.
TLDR: It covers up the drops and yes it's magical when it works.
VRR would be good to have. It would work nicely alongside the 40FPS@120Hz games, which I'd like to see them set as standard in their PlayStation Studios games.
There's absolutely no point in games like Dying Light dropping to internal 1080p resolutions or running at 30FPS on this generation in order to show off fancy lighting.
I mean, don't get me wrong, it looks great, but the performance hit is a problem. 40FPS@120hz could smooth this over a bit.
If Sony set this bar on their first party titles, third parties will follow.
Equally, these comments could be levied on Microsoft too. Except they already support VRR and 1440p outputs.
More things like Cyberpunk need to happen, where Microsoft and Sony say "your game runs like *****, fix it or we take your game off the store. It's unfair to players/payers".
@Palleon I am a PS5 owner. I want to know where VRR is. I have a TV that supports it. The PS5 hardware supports it. I don't know what the hold up is.
@awp69 I understand that some developers may want to unlock higher frame rates due to VRR, but personally I think that's a very bad choice for following reasons:
1. Games are designed around frame budget. Say, you want 60 FPS, so you know exactly how much time in milliseconds you have for rendering, simulation, physics. You can manage it, more or less, for every frame. That's how locked frame rate is achieved. And now some manager comes up and says "screw that, let's remove the cap". And frame time starts swinging all other the place. It is a bad experience for the player, not having the predictable pace, even when it's masked with VRR. It might be good, eventually, when your FPS never dips below 120. But we are far from achieving this.
2. Many players won't have VRR for many years due to TV. For them stable frame rate is necessity. And that's why game developers worth their salt carefully managing frame budget, instead of relying on technology to mask their poor work.
Lots of PS5 games I play are quite stable at 60fps, so I don't feel much need there. But if it was available games could include a VRR graphics option to push up resolution or other settings. Letting a game fluctuate between 50-60fps as opposed to 60fps with overhead could be an interesting opportunity to push up visual fidelity
@heybren22 But you can backup all your game saves to USB, it's in the System Backup options. Admittedly it would be better if you could copy individual game files, but at least you do have the option to back up your saves without Plus cloud backup.
@viktorcode There are some grains of truth in your comment, but most of it seems confused.
Until VRR is standard, i.e. in >80% of console owners' homes, developers are doing to have to optimise for a given frame rate either by having a fixed frame budget and a locked frame rate, or by using Vsync, which is what VRR is actually a superior replacement for (Vsync comes at a cost to frame rate, as well as uneven input lag). For games running at an unlocked frame rate you'll see an uplift with VRR, and a smoothing of input lag (there will always be some, good developers aim to have it be a constant so it's predictable, and work to get that constant lag as low as they can)
None of this effects the pace of the game though. It /used to/ back when everything was single threaded and things were optimised down to the metal, but nowadays your simulation will be running entirely decoupled from the render thread(s), and will operate based on the time that has passed since the last simulation tick, rather than a fixed amount happening per frame. This is how game engines have worked for well over a decade.
@BartoxTharglod Yes I think LCDs got it last year but not OLED yet…
@BartoxTharglod Not for the flagship 2021 OLED Bravias, I know they pushed the update to some 2020 tvs last October though. I could be wrong, but I got the impression that further updates would come shortly, in the coming weeks.
Its bad business raising clients expectations, falling short then falling silent.
I am quite disappointed by Sony's attitude this gen. The charging for PS4 to PS5 upgrades after stating ot would not be the case, no Gamepass alternative, increase in game prices. And also not keeping their customers in the loop with updates on promised features. Thank god for their exclusive games or I would be seriously considering jumping ship.
So many commenting in this thread about VRR not worth having, just because they don't have a TV supporting it. Embarrassing tbh, when you see how well Elden Ring runs on Xbox with VRR
Really starting to dislike PlayStation this generation.
So I bought a Sony Bravia A80J last year JUST for the PlayStation 5 because it's a SUPPOSEDLY a PlayStation 5 ready TV............. I finally got the long awaited VRR software update for the TV last week............... BUT no PS5 VRR update????? Come on Sony.......... Your halfway there at least lol
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