On Wednesday, a subset of users called Xbox Insiders will automatically switch to a new shutdown option to save power, Blaine Hauglie, the program’s technical manager, wrote in a blog post.
When left idle, consoles will use less power than sleep mode, which allows users to wake up devices and start gaming more quickly.
The Insider Program will consist of a small group of players getting an early look at features and content in development.
“This one-time update to power settings will reduce power consumption while the console is off and will not affect performance, gameplay, or the ability of the console to receive nightly system, game, or application updates.Hauglie wrote.
The off “reduces power usage by up to 20 times when off compared to sleep mode” and every other console that switches to power saving mode “will save the carbon equivalent of a tree planted and cultivated for a decade”.
Gaming has a substantial carbon footprint that is set to continue to grow as more people become involved and gaming hardware requires more power to run.
Xbox has taken steps to mitigate its environmental impact for years, even making Energy Saver mode the default mode for new consoles.
At a later date, Xbox will offer all users their “carbon conscious upgrade”, which times updates to optimize the use of renewable energy. An earlier generation of console, the Xbox One, will also get new power modes in January.
