Microsoft has started rolling out a software update for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One which is in charge, according to its version, of considerably reducing the energy consumption of the consoles. The Redmond-based company explains that this movement is part of its strategy to be a company with negative carbon emissions, positive water balance and zero waste by 2030.
One of the things introduced by Microsoft in the Xbox Series X and S consoles is a Off mode which the company claims reduces power consumption by up to 20 times compared to sleep mode (sleep). This shutdown mode will take care of shutdown processes, support programmatic game and console updates instead of randomly waking up between 2am and 6am, support remote features while the console is on on, in addition to the aforementioned reduction in energy consumption.
Microsoft explains that Xbox Insiders “will notice their Xbox Series X|S consoles automatically update to the off (power saving) option. This one-time update to power settings will reduce power consumption while the console is turned off and will not affect performance, gameplay, or the console’s ability to receive nightly system, game, or application updates.”
The Redmond-based corporation plans to bring the aforementioned shutdown mode to Xbox One, the previous generation, but warns that it will cause an increase in the console’s startup time. However, such a loss can more than make up for it if, in addition to some energy savings, you also save a little on your electricity bill.
Another configuration around energy consumption that Microsoft has begun to roll out for Xbox Insiders and for the last two generations of consoles is the one of “Active hours”. It is intended for users who use sleep mode and allows them to adjust the times when the console will be active. When it’s time to wake up, the Xbox console will boot up quickly, and when the active hours are up, the device will shut down completely, consuming 0.5 watts compared to 10 or 15 while active. On Xbox Series X and S the programming will be enabled automatically, while on Xbox One it is completely manual.
As we’ve already said, power-saving features are available to Xbox Insiders, who get early access to future updates coming to Microsoft consoles (the Insiders program also covers the Windows operating system).
