Ubisoft has had a close relationship with Nintendo for a long time. It was one of the few third-party developers to happily support the original Nintendo Switch from the get-go, and it even partnered with them to create the oddball but quite well-received XCOM-inspired crossover game Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (2017) and its sequel, Sparks of Hope (2022).
This collaboration continued with the Nintendo Switch 2 this year as Ubisoft successfully ported its most technologically advanced games, Massive's Star Wars: Outlaws and Ubisoft Toronto's Assassin's Creed Shadows, to the new hybrid console.
As we previously reported, the latter game, which launched earlier this month on Nintendo Switch 2, also includes a dedicated algorithm for VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) that manages to keep the feature enabled even at the game's locked frame rate of 30 FPS, despite the hardware only technically allowing that for 40 FPS and above.
Now, speaking to FRVR, Ubisoft revealed how it works:
Both Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Star Wars: Outlaws use a similar technique to take advantage of Switch 2’s Variable Refresh Rate, even below 40Hz. Since Shadows targets 30fps, and the console’s VRR currently only works at 40Hz or higher, we use a clever workaround. The same frame is effectively presented twice, once in the middle of the frame and again at the end, so the hardware outputs at a 60Hz interval while maintaining smooth visuals.
Even more interesting is the fact that Ubisoft said it is working with Nintendo to potentially apply this custom algorithm system-wide. If that option was actually implemented, it could benefit all Nintendo Switch 2 games, offering a smoother experience in handheld mode. Sadly, the interview does not specify any timeframe, so we don't know yet when it could arrive.
At the very least, Ubisoft has added that it is now a standard feature of the Anvil Engine, so it will be found in future games powered by the proprietary technology. The first one to release could be the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, which, according to the latest rumor, could be launched as early as mid-January 2026. Anvil should also appear again in March 2026 for the rumored debut of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced, the remake of the 2013 game.
About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.
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