Microsoft forces gamers to ‘fight climate change’ with new Xbox features

Microsoft is rolling out new Xbox features which will force gamers to fight “climate change” with what the mega-corporation is calling “the first carbon aware console”. 

One feature being unveiled is that Xbox consoles will no longer self-schedule their nightly maintenance windows between 2 AM and 6 AM, but rather during a time “when it can use the most renewable energy in your local energy grid.” 

“This decreases fossil fuel dependency and CO2 emissions, and could potentially save you money,” announced Xbox in a blog post this month. 

The gaming giant will also automatically update systems to “Shutdown (energy saving)” mode. Unlike Sleep mode, Shutdown mode will ensure that the system takes a longer time to boot up and users will not be able to turn on the system remotely. But on the upside, says the company, it uses 20 times less power than Sleep mode. 

Those who like Sleep mode will be able to set “active hours” during which the system can enter Sleep mode when not being actively used. During those hours the system will be able to process updates and downloads. However, outside those active hours, the console will enter Shutdown mode and take longer to reboot. 

But the real energy-saving benefits come into play when the system is barely used at all. If two players keep their consoles in Shutdown mode for 20 hours per day for a full year, they will have saved “the equivalent amount of carbon removed by 1 tree planted and grown for a decade.” 

“Xbox is working to reduce our environmental impact to help us reach Microsoft’s goal of being a carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste company by 2030 by rethinking how we design, build, distribute, and use our products,” wrote Xbox. 

“We not only hold ourselves accountable to the carbon emissions in the production and distribution of our products, but to the emissions created with the use of our products in the homes of our fans as well. So, the way we design our hardware and software to be more efficient and optimized for renewable energy can have a big impact.”