Xbox consoles can now download updates in Energy Saver mode
Microsoft is making improvements to its Energy Saver mode on Xbox consoles. While Xbox owners have traditionally had to enable Standby mode to continue getting game and system updates while consoles are powered off, the Energy Saver mode will now support downloading updates in the background.
“Now, system and game updates can be downloaded during Energy Saver mode, further saving energy,” explains Dave McCarthy, corporate vice president of Xbox operations. “Energy Saver mode consumes about 20 times less power than Standby mode when the console is not being used or receiving updates.”
Microsoft has now made Energy Saver mode the default option when Xbox owners initially set up a console. The Energy Saver mode does mean it’s slower to resume your Xbox, particularly on older Xbox One consoles. The latest Xbox Series S / X consoles boot so quickly that the tradeoff in energy use is definitely worth enabling Energy Saver, especially coupled with game and system updates supported in the background.
Elsewhere, Microsoft has also switched to using post-consumer recycled (PCR) resins on its Xbox Series S consoles. “At a minimum, 28% of the mechanical component plastic by weight in the updated Series S console is post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin,” says McCarthy.
Microsoft has also embedded an “enhanced power monitoring system” in a small number of consoles for anonymous telemetry collection. “This is key because accurate, per unit telemetry helps us identify the best opportunities to introduce future improvements that will help us save power,” explains McCarthy. Microsoft is also looking to improve Xbox Cloud Gaming. Since it’s powered by Azure, Microsoft will shift to a 100 percent supply of renewable energy by 2025.
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