Xbox “Carbon Aware” Downloads to Be Introduced in New Software Update

xbox carbon aware

Xbox Insider consoles will soon receive a software update that will make downloading and updating games “carbon aware.” The update should lower your console’s effective carbon emissions using regional data.

A news article posted on the Xbox website explains how the process whole works. When the console is connected to the Internet and plugged in, and carbon intensity data from your region is available, the console will schedule downloads and updates during times when carbon emissions are potentially lower. It will attempt to schedule your updates when more renewable energy is used in the power grid, for example. 

This process not only reduces your console’s effective carbon emissions but could also potentially save you money, the article claims. You don’t have to do anything on your end, either, making it a free update that you don’t really need to fuss over.

This carbon-aware system isn’t the first of its kind, either. Microsoft introduced an update for Windows 11 that made the system carbon aware. While this may raise concerns among Windows 11 users who aren’t fond of unwanted updates, you’ll probably be less averse to updating your favorite games and titles while you sleep.

Xbox owners who are part of the Xbox Insiders program also get to try out a new energy-saving feature that lets you save power when shutting your console down. This new Shutdown (energy saving) option doesn’t impact performance, and it won’t stop overnight updates, either. You can also access remote features other than remote wake. Xbox claims that this new Shutdown (energy saving) option saves up to 20x more power than Sleep mode.

Another Xbox Insiders update includes an “active hours” setting that lets you set your console’s active hours of the day. The console will boot quickly during the set active hours and will save more power when it shuts down outside these hours.

With these changes and updates, Microsoft aims to become a zero-waste and carbon-negative company by 2030. These changes not only reduce carbon emissions but also could potentially save you a bit of money in the long run.

Source: Xbox

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