Microsoft Takes New Steps to Make Xbox Consoles Save More Power

Microsoft is introducing some changes to make its Xbox Series X|S consoles save more power. Starting today, the shutdown (energy saving) option will become the new default power setting for Xbox Insiders.

Microsoft emphasized that enabling shutdown in power settings uses up to 20x less power than the Sleep power option. Moreover, it still allows Xbox consoles to download system and game updates when the console is turned off.

In addition to making shutdown (energy saving) the default power setting for Xbox Insiders, Microsoft is also making game downloads and updates carbon aware starting today. “Being carbon aware means reducing carbon footprint by optimizing updates and downloads to run at a time when the console can use the most renewable energy,” the company explained.

“Xbox is now the first gaming console to offer carbon aware game downloads and updates,” the Xbox team said. “While only available to Xbox Insiders for now, all Xbox gamers will have the chance to update soon so that your Xbox console is carbon aware.”

Microsoft is rolling out another sustainability improvement to Xbox Insiders today with the new “Active hours” setting. This new option will add more granular settings to the Sleep power setting mode. Instead of keeping consoles on sleep mode all the time when they’re turned off, Insiders will be able to choose when they prefer their consoles to boot quickly and be available for remote wake.

Still, Microsoft really wants the majority of Xbox users to leave their Xbox console in shutdown mode. “For every two Xbox consoles that switch to shutdown (energy saving) for one year, we will save the equivalent amount of carbon removed by 1 tree planted and grown for a decade,” the company emphasized today.