Earlier this week, Microsoft rolled out an adjustment for the software on the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S that saves you more for your rainy days and shrinks your carbon footprint while prepping for your next gallivant in a game.
Updates, updates, updates. They choose their moments consciously, I think. Once I actually am able to spend an evening on a game I've hankered after for ages, they descend from the ether to ruin those plans. This'll take... two hours to download. And another 45 minutes to install. Then it'll check that the multiplayer mode is synced up with the latest version of the game before I start the single-player mode which will present me with an endlessly spinning spiral to savour. No, thank you. What I would do in an ideal world is set the console to download and install overnight... but that costs a pretty penny given the state of energy prices in the United Kingdom. My hands were tied. Endlessly spinning spiral or no avocado toast for a month?
One game I'm willing to wait like a lemon for is Redfall, the new supernatural co-op from Arkane. Check out the trailer below!
Emphasis on the "were." The Xbox Energy Saver mode has gotten an amendment that "consumes about 20 times less power than Standby mode when the console is not being used or receiving updates" as part of Xbox's commitment to become a carbon negative, water positive and zero waste company by 2030. Moreover, "system and game updates can be downloaded during Energy Saver mode, further saving energy" if you're up to your eyeballs in updates for your favourite live games. That's awesome stuff, irrespective of whether you champion Xbox or PlayStation, or if you're part of that mythical PC lot.
In order to switch on Energy Saver mode on your console, open Settings and select "Sleep Mode & Startup." In the centre of the three columns, select the "Sleep mode" drop down menu, then select "Energy Saver."
This post on the Xbox blog shows off the goals that Microsoft has to hit on its journey to transform into a much more sustainable company as well as the achievements it has got under its belt already. For example, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles were assessed to be 97% recyclable and its cloud gaming services will use only renewable energy sources by 2025.
Topics: Xbox, Xbox Series X