Xbox on Reducing Energy From Console Usage, Includes ‘Green’ Game Code

Xbox is continuing its goals to reduce carbon emissions, helping Microsoft reach its goal of becoming a carbon negative, water positive and zero waste company by 2030. In the latest update, Xbox discusses its use of “greener” game code and the integration of energy reduction modes on console.

Find 2020, Xbox has been steadily contributing to the reduction of energy by way of two major interventions. This includes using more effecient game code with the Xbox Sustainability Toolkit as well as making optional energy saver modes on Xbox consoles available. According to the company, these interventions have prevented over 1.2 million metric tons of CO2e, when compated to usage without the use of these intervbentions.

According to the latest Xbox Wire post, US EPA estimates that Xbox’s reductions over FY20-FY23 is the equivilent more than 3 billion car miles being released into the atmosphere. Part of this is due to Microsoft’s goal of making Xbox “the first major gaming console to create energy and emissions measurement tools.” With the Xbox Sustainability Toolkit, research insights and case studies are publicly available via the Xbox Sustainability Toolkit site.

Over three years, studios like 343 Industries and Activision have working towards implimenting Xbox Sustainability Toolkit within Halo Infinite, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Warzone. In June, the Xbox introduced new tools such as the Dynamic Power States API, a way for developers to deliver increased energy savings withing a cost of graphical fidelity within their games. “We’re constantly looking for ways to empower developers to leverage tools and resources that help reduce energy and emissions in game development,” Trista Patterson, Director of Sustainability says.

Since 2023, Xbox has been supporting the energy saving mode across Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S consoles. Users can take advantage of the latest energy efficiency features by going to ‘Settings’ and selecting ‘General’ and ‘Power Options’. The ‘Shutdown (energy saving) option reduces the carbon footprint of the console by optomizing updates and downloads to run “at a time when the console can use the most renewable energy.” By using this mode, up to 20 times the power consuption is reduced when compared to being in Sleep mode.

“We know that the work towards a more sustainable future is never complete. Gaming brings joy to players, but we recognize it also has an impact on our environment. Our commitment to our players and the industry is to work to improve that impact in a responsible way,” the blog post concludes.