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Microsoft is rolling out an update to Xbox consoles starting today. This automatically switches to a power-saving shutdown mode instead of the normal energy-consuming sleep mode. This is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to make Xbox the “first carbon-aware console.”
Blaine Hauglie, technical program manager at Xbox, wrote in a blog post announcing the change that the update “creates an opportunity for the collective community of gamers to make choices that reduce their environmental impact while gaming. ” writes. Xbox Series X, Series S, and One consoles default to ‘Shutdown (Energy Saving)’ instead of ‘Sleep (Instant On)’. Xbox now schedules downloads during times when low-carbon grid energy is available.
These changes will roll out to users enrolled in the Xbox Insider program like beta testers starting today, but will eventually ship to all units. You have to do it manually from system settings. Microsoft hasn’t specified how users of its Xbox Series X and S consoles will be notified about the switch, but for the Xbox One console, it states, “We will use multiple messaging methods to determine the best way to notify players of the change.” We will test our options.”
In early 2021, the Natural Resources Defense Council urged Microsoft to make power saving mode the default for Xbox. The non-profit advocacy group calculated that by 2025 he could consume 4 billion kilowatt-hours of power in the United States using Sleep as his first listed power mode. million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
According to Microsoft’s post, switching to Shutdown consumes only 20 times less power than Sleep, consuming 0.5 Watts for controller charging and activity detection compared to 10-15 Watts. The Verge says shutting down is the default option for Xboxes shipped and updated since his March.
Xbox One owners will receive a new power mode, Shut Down (Energy Saving), starting today. Your Xbox One console will continue to receive updates nightly, but will experience “slower boot times.” In 2015, Ars estimated the annual cost of keeping an Xbox One in standby mode at an average of $13.73.
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For users who don’t want to give up the immediate response of sleep mode, there are some compromises available, at least for Xbox Insiders. You can now set ‘active hours’ for the console. This will cause the machine to boot up immediately for a certain amount of time, but fall back to shutdown mode outside of that window. Note, however, that remote wake is not supported while the console is shutting down, so you can’t even start a remote play session during that time.
