Xbox reveals ‘money-saving’ trick with power settings that ‘uses 20x less energy’ – you can even set schedules

MICROSOFT Xbox Series consoles are the first to offer carbon-aware game downloads and updates.

This year, Xbox began reducing its carbon footprint by optimizing updates and downloads to run at a time when the console can use more renewable energy.

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A year earlier, Windows Update became carbon-conscious for computers running Windows 11. But now, Xbox consoles have also made the leap.

Microsoft explains that when a console is connected to the Internet, Xbox will schedule game, app, and operating system updates for your console at times during the nightly maintenance window, which results in lower carbon emissions.

This is because a greater proportion of electricity comes from low-carbon sources on the grid.

For example, instead of your Xbox waking up during the maintenance window between 2am and 6am, the console will wake up at a time when it can use the most renewable energy on your local energy grid.

Microsoft says this reduces dependence on fossil fuels and CO2 emissions, and can even save customers money on their electricity bills while gaming.

This update is currently only available to customers other than Xbox Insiders, a program that provides Microsoft gamers with special offers and perks.

Xbox Insiders will now notice that their Xbox Series consoles automatically update to the default power saving option.

This one-time update to power settings will reduce the console’s power consumption while it is turned off. This does not affect any game’s performance, playability, or your console’s ability to receive nightly system, game, or application updates.

Using the new power saving mode can help reduce power consumption by up to 20 times more than the console’s default sleep mode.

In sleep mode, instead of turning off, the console remains on in a low power consumption setting, consuming more electricity, but providing several advantages.

Sleep mode supports automatic updates for the console, games, and applications, and is required to use features such as remote wake and quick boot, which allow the console to boot up faster and can even be woken up with a recognized voice.

However, in power save mode, the console is completely turned off to save energy, resulting in the lowest possible power consumption.

Despite being fully turned off, it still supports automatic updates for console, games and apps, however, it can take up to 45 seconds to boot up when it is finally turned back on.

“Every small step we take has a greater collective impact,” Microsoft said in a statement. declaration.

“Choosing to save energy can have a real and significant impact. For example, for every 2 consoles that switch to energy saving over a year, we will save the equivalent amount of carbon removed by 1 tree planted and grown over a decade. “

Another power setting update rolled out to Xbox Insiders, a new power setting update known as “Active Hours”.

For those who choose the Sleep Power option, you can now set your console’s activity times, meaning that during these times, your console will quickly start up and be available for remote activation.

But once the active hours are over, the Xbox will shut down completely, consuming just 0.5W of power compared to 10-15W while active.

“We can’t do this alone,” the company states on its website.

“We need to work together with our players, developers, studios and the industry if we want to help reduce gaming’s impact on the environment.”

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