Xboxhas become the first “carbon-aware” console according toMicrosoft. The industry colossus has rolled out a new update that promotes sustainability through new power options and energy-saving modes.
The console-maker has shared details about the new carbon-negative update, stating that is a part of its sustainability efforts that aim to reduce the environmental impacts of how Microsoft “designs, builds, distributes and uses” its products. With the new update, Xbox consoles will be optimizing updates and game downloads so that they “run at a time when the console can use the most renewable energy.”
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With the new features and energy-saving options, Xbox consoles will have the ability to prioritize reducing carbon emissions during downloads and updates. To reduce carbon footprint, the consoles will schedule the downloads to verify there is less “fossil fuel dependency and CO2 emissions,” provided that their power mode is set to Shutdown (energy saving) mode. While the new power option is only available to Xbox Insiders, the gaming giant reiterates that it will roll out for everyone soon.
According to Blaine Hauglie, who serves as a technical program manager at Microsoft, the new update will reduce the power consumption of Xbox Series X|S consoles, and will reportedly have no negative effects on the device’s performance. Moreover, the new Shutdown (energy saving) mode will save up to 20 times more power when compared to the console’s Sleep mode, potentially having a positive effect on electric bills.
Haughlie also touches on the potential impacts of switching Xbox consoles to Shutdown (energy saving) mode, saying that using two Xbox consoles in the new power option mode for a year will result in “an equivalent amount of carbon removed by one tree planted and grown for a decade.”
In addition to the Shutdown power option, the update also introduces the new Active Hours setting that allows users to decide during which hours their consoles stay active. Except for the selected hours, the consoles will shut down, cutting power and saving energy. It is worth noting that the new energy setting will be automatically adjusted in Xbox Series X|S, whereas it will be set to “always active” in Xbox One consoles unless the user changes the settings.
“The upcoming changes will create opportunities for our collective community of gamers to make choices to reduce environmental impact while gaming,” the official blog post reads. Those who would like to reduce the environmental impacts of their gaming sessions on Xbox consoles should see the new options and features on their consoles soon.
