Night City just got a whole lot smoother. CD Projekt Red’s latest patch for Cyberpunk 2077 – Update 2.3 – is making waves by finally introducing native Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support for consoles, and PlayStation 5 Pro owners are reaping jaw-dropping performance gains. If you thought Phantom Liberty’s 2.0 overhaul was transformative, this might just be the cherry on top.
For the uninitiated, VRR syncs your display’s refresh rate with your console’s frame rate output. No more screen tearing, stuttering, or immersion-breaking hiccups during chaotic firefights in Watson or high-speed chases in Badlands. While Xbox Series X|S benefited from system-level VRR before, this update brings native in-engine implementation to all consoles – and the PS5 Pro’s extra muscle turns it into an absolute beast.
The PS5 Pro Advantage
Early tests reveal the PS5 Pro now pushes up to 70-90 FPS in Performance Mode (previously capped at 60 FPS) with ray tracing enabled, thanks to VRR eliminating the need for rigid frame-pacing. The difference? Silky-smooth gameplay even in densely packed scenes like the Afterlife bar or Corpo Plaza, where explosions and neon crowds previously tanked frame rates. Digital Foundry’s analysis highlights a 40% minimum FPS uplift in stress-test scenarios:
See the stunning before/after comparison here:
Cyberpunk 2077: VRR on PS5 Pro - The Ultimate Smoothness Test
Why This Matters
VRR isn’t just a tech buzzword – it’s transformative for Cyberpunk. The game’s chaotic open world demands split-second reactions during MaxTac raids or melee duels with cyberpsychos. With VRR, input lag drops, gunplay feels snappier, and driving at 200mph through City Center no longer risks motion sickness. CDPR also optimized memory usage in 2.3, reducing pop-in and texture flickering on consoles.
Gear Up for the Ultimate Experience
To maximize VRR’s benefits, you’ll need a compatible HDMI 2.1 display. Here’s what we recommend:
- 🖥️ Samsung Odyssey Neo G8: 4K/144Hz with FreeSync Premium Pro – perfect for the PS5 Pro’s output:
- 🎧 SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless: Immerse yourself in Night City’s rain-soaked ambiance:
- 🔋 DualSense Edge Controller: Dominate with customizable back paddles during firefights:
Beyond VRR: What Else Is New?
Update 2.3 isn’t just about frames. CDPR sneaked in subtle but welcome fixes:
- Improved NPC pathing (no more T-posing pedestrians).
- Dynamic HDR calibration for OLED displays.
- Faster menu load times (critical when swapping cyberware mid-combat).
The Verdict
Two years after its rocky launch, Cyberpunk 2077 has evolved into the Blade Runner-esque RPG we dreamed of – and VRR on PS5 Pro cements it as a technical showcase. As one Reddit user put it: “This feels like a next-gen game now. Finally.”
Update 2.3 is live now on PlayStation and Xbox. PC players received DLSS 3.7 optimizations.
👉 P.S. For those still on base PS5/Xbox: VRR works there too, but temper expectations. The Pro’s extra GPU grunt is where this patch truly shines.
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