Important Update: Ongoing VRR Issues on PS5 & PS5 Pro – Not Just an LG Problem?

PS5 & PS5 Pro VRR Issues – Over 3 Months Without a Fix!

Hey everyone,

I’m making this post to bring more attention to the VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) issues that have been affecting mainly PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro users for over three months—right around the time the PS5 Pro launched.

Many users believe that this issue was caused by the latest two firmware updates from LG, But I believe, that it could be the cause of PlayStation themselves. My friend’s LG G2 OLED is still on an older firmware (13.30.80 from July 2024), yet he still experiences the exact same VRR stutter issues. This means the problem is not limited to the most recent LG firmware updates. That strongly suggests that this could be a Sony/PS5-related problem rather than an LG-specific issue.

Edit: I uploaded a video demonstrating the VRR issues using a VRR overlay on my LG C1 while playing The Last of Us Part I on the PS5 Pro. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/bbbGep47Y60.

Summary of the Issue

For those unfamiliar with the problem, here’s a quick explanation:

  • Within 5–30 minutes of gameplay, VRR starts causing noticeable lag spikes every 8 seconds.
  • This is most visible when panning the camera slowly—a brief millisecond stutter occurs every 8 seconds.
  • On LG OLED TVs, enabling the VRR overlay reveals that the refresh rate spikes to 119Hz every 8 seconds before returning to the game’s actual frame rate.
  • The only way to temporarily fix this is to disable and re-enable VRR in the PS5 system menu—or disable VRR entirely, which defeats the purpose of having it.
  • Some users report seeing this issue as a gamma flicker instead of a frame spike, depending on the TV model and how sensitive you are to this stuff.

Many initially thought LG’s recent firmware updates caused this issue, but testing this on my buddies LG G2 with an older LG firmware (July 2024) still shows the same problem, making it more likely that this is a Sony/PS5-related issue rather than purely an LG problem.

What We Tested

  • Consoles: PS5 & PS5 Pro (latest firmware)
  • TV Models:
    • LG C1 OLED (latest firmware: 03.51.15; previous: 03.41.05)
    • LG G2 OLED (firmware: 13.30.80 from July 2024)
  • Cables: Official HDMI 2.1 cables that came with the PS5/PS5 Pro
  • HDMI Ports: Different HDMI ports were tested, it makes no difference

I did some tests with on my Xbox Series X, I couldn't recreate any of the VRR issues there. Which makes me believe that the PS5 itself is causing these issues?

List of Affected Games (Tested & Confirmed)

These are the games I personally tested and/or confirmed by other users to have VRR-related issues:

  • The Last of Us Part 1 & Part 2
  • Diablo 4 (PS5 Pro 120Hz mode)
  • Hogwarts Legacy (HFR Performance Mode)
  • Elden Ring (with the PS5's unsupported VRR setting enabled, despite running at 60Hz)
  • Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Not tested personally, but many reports confirm VRR issues in 120Hz mode)
  • Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (some reports suggest VRR issues, but unconfirmed in my tests)
  • Horizon Forbidden West (did not experience VRR issues, but some users report problems)

Games That Seem Fine (No VRR Issues in My Tests)

  • Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (no VRR issues detected)
  • God of War: Ragnarok (seems to work fine without issues)
  • Stellar Blade (seems fine for me)

Is This a PlayStation Problem?

Since my friend’s LG G2 OLED on an older firmware still experienced this 8-second VRR stutter, it suggests that this issue may be caused by Sony rather than LG.

I've seen a few people online mention VRR issues on Sony and Samsung OLED TVs as well.

Additionally, some users have mentioned a separate VRR issue related to frame rates between 50-70 FPS, which causes severe stuttering and instability. However, I have not experienced that personally.

Reddit Threads Discussing This Issue:

Here are other Reddit threads where users have shared their experiences:

Digital Foundry Analysis Shows This Problem

There is also footage from Digital Foundry showing this exact issue in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. You can see the frame-time inconsistencies every 8 seconds in their analysis, FPS drops down a brief millisecond and goes up again, yet they haven’t explicitly mentioned it:
🎥 Digital Foundry Video (Timestamped)

Thanks to u/Dorfmann_ for showing me this!

https://www.reddit.com/r/PS5pro/comments/1ijt8ob/comment/mdagu4z/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

What Can We Do?

This issue has been going on for over three months with no fix in sight. If we want this to be addressed, we need to report this to Sony, game developers, and even LG.

If You Have This Issue:

  1. Comment below with your:
    • TV model & firmware version
    • Which console you are using
    • Game you noticed the issue in & your display settings (120Hz mode, VRR, HDR, etc.)
  2. Report this to Sony, Developers & LG Support – The more people report it, the higher the chances of a fix!
  3. Spread awareness – Share this thread and discuss it in gaming/tech communities.

Final Thoughts

With this thread, I hope to bring more visibility to this frustrating issue. It’s unacceptable that we have premium VRR-enabled displays and consoles, yet a game-breaking VRR bug persists for months without acknowledgment from Sony or LG.

Let me know in the comments if you have this issue, your setup details, and any additional insights you may have. Thank you everyone.