Entertainment
Xbox update shows your console energy usage but doesn’t make it more efficient-Michael Beckwith-Entertainment – Metro
Microsoft is issuing an Xbox update to better explain its power options settings work and to keep an eye on your energy usage.
The update’s currently only for testers but we can’t imagine everyone else will need to wait much longer (pic: Microsoft)
Microsoft is issuing an Xbox update to better explain its power options settings work and to keep an eye on your energy usage.
The rise of energy bills has obviously made people more conscious of how much energy their various electronics are using. Some gamers, in particular, have had to wrestle with the possibility of quitting their hobby in an effort to save money.
As such, people have been looking into the energy consumption for their gaming consoles. Information which is thankfully provided by the likes of Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo.
Perhaps because of the heightened conversation surrounding the subject, Microsoft has issued an update to its Xbox consoles, specifically for the power settings screen.
The first thing it does is rename the two different power options, making it clearer what the differences between them are.
The energy saver option is now simply called ‘shut-down.’ Although it doesn’t technically turn off the console completely since it will still be able to download automatic updates.
The standby option has been renamed as a sleep mode, which allows the console to boot up faster. Microsoft also stresses that this option uses more energy than the shut-down option.
Lastly, the menu displays how much power is being used while the console is off, in case you want to crunch some maths yourself and work out exactly how much the Xbox is costing you.
The update is currently only for testers that are part of the Xbox Insider programme but will likely be distributed to the public in the near future.
In an Xbox Wire blog post, Microsoft writes, ‘We have updated the power options settings page with more information so you can better decide how you want your console to behave when you turn it off.’
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Aside from increased energy bills, Microsoft may have been prompted by reports that the Xbox is more expensive in terms of energy usage than its competitors.
Even with the energy saver option, it was discovered that leaving the Xbox in standby uses upwards of £59 worth of energy per year, whereas the PlayStation 5 only costs £4 per year.
There’s currently no mention of Microsoft updating the console to reduce energy consumption or releasing a new model that requires less power. Sony, meanwhile, launched a new PlayStation 5 model not too long ago that was discovered to save energy compared to the launch model.
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