Sony has rolled out a new PlayStation 5 system software update, which became available yesterday, bringing a critical fix for a lingering issue affecting Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) performance, particularly in games running at 120 Hz with an unlocked frame rate. Though the official update notes only reference minor usability improvements, users and industry watchers have confirmed that this release quietly addresses a more significant problem.
The fix was first spotted by users on the PlayStation 5 subreddit, where several players reported improvements in performance in titles previously affected by stuttering issues. This included games like The Last of Us Part I and II, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Diablo IV. These titles, while capable of utilizing 120 Hz output, often suffered from inconsistent frame pacing when VRR was active, resulting in noticeable stutter, even when games were not explicitly running in a 120 Hz mode.
The problem also extended to games that rely on VRR within the 48 Hz to 60 Hz range, such as Elden Ring. According to community feedback, Elden Ring would begin to stutter after approximately 20 minutes of playtime when VRR was enabled. Following this update, players have reported that the issue no longer occurs. Sony later confirmed to Digital Foundry that the VRR issue had indeed been fixed in this latest firmware release, though the update notes made no mention of the change.
This fix brings the PlayStation 5 in line with the Xbox Series X|S consoles, which have delivered a more stable VRR experience since launch. Sony introduced VRR support to the PlayStation 5 via a firmware update in 2022, but adoption has been uneven, and performance issues have persisted across several major titles. The resolution of this particular issue is a notable step toward improving system-wide support for high refresh rate displays, especially as more users adopt VRR-capable TVs and monitors.
Outside of the VRR fix, the update does not include any significant new features. As per Sony’s official changelog, the update includes minor changes related to message notifications and improvements to screen usability. The last major firmware update arrived in April and brought several user-facing features, including a refreshed UI commemorating PlayStation’s 30th anniversary and an Audio Focus setting designed to help players better distinguish quieter in-game sounds and voice chat during gameplay.
While the omission of the VRR fix from the official patch notes may have left some users unaware of the improvement, the change has been widely welcomed by the PlayStation community. With smoother gameplay now restored across a number of popular titles, the update marks an important quality-of-life improvement for players using displays that support variable refresh rate technology.
