Microsoft announced that Xbox is the first gaming console to be carbon aware, as it rolls out a new update for Xbox Insiders.
This new update will change how Xbox Series X|S, as well as Xbox One, consoles handle updates, and how it will power off so that they use less energy.
The reduction in energy use means less carbon emissions (as most of our energy supply right now still relies on coal and oil, which produces energy via combustion which releases carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases) and hopefully reduce the impact of climate change.
With the new update, all Xbox consoles will schedule any game, app or OS updates at specific times that will result in lower carbon emissions. It’s a smarter method than just “update between 2-6AM” but it requires the console to be connected to the internet, and Microsoft to have access to regional carbon intensity data. The ideal case is that the Xbox console will wake up during a time when there’s access to renewable energy in the local electricity grid.
Another option that will appear on Xbox consoles is Shutdown (energy saving). It’s somewhere between Sleep and full Shutdown, as the console can still receive overnight updates, but you cannot remote wake it. Shutdown (energy saving), Microsoft claims, cuts power use by 20x compared to Sleep mode.
Finally, the update will also add an “Active hours” setting. This works in tandem with Sleep mode. If the console is in Sleep mode outside of the “Active hours”, it will fully shut down. But it will remain in normal Sleep mode (which allows remote wake) while in “Active hours”.
How does this affect the user experience? For the most part, not much. The new power settings should not have an impact on gaming performance as it deals with how an Xbox use power when it’s not used but still plugged in.
Should the settings work as intended, players will see a reduction in electricity bills as the consoles sap less power during their downtime when not used.
Whether the energy saving claims back up how much carbon emissions being reduced as Microsoft is touting remains to be seen, and is not something we have expertise in investigating.
But seeing any gaming console being more considerate with its power usage is good to see. And it’s commendable of Microsoft and Xbox to push this as an update. It’s rather apropos for the console brand that primarily uses green colour in its marketing to actually have a green console.
Source: Xbox Wire