Microsoft releases Xbox update with ‘CO₂-conscious updates’

Microsoft is making its February update available to all Xbox users. This includes adding ‘CO₂-aware’ updates to the energy-saving mode of the consoles. Users also get the option to control their Xbox through the Google Home smartphone app.

Microsoft announces the release of its February update on Wednesday, featuring its “CO₂-aware” update feature. The tech giant previously announced that feature. According to the manufacturer, this allows consoles to automatically perform updates and downloads at specific times when a relatively large amount of low-carbon energy is available on the grid. This works if the console is plugged in, connected to the internet and ‘local CO₂ intensity data’ is available.

In addition, after installing the February Update, Xbox Series consoles will default to a shutdown mode when powered off. That reports The Verge. According to Microsoft, this mode is up to twenty times more energy efficient than sleep mode. The console can still receive system and game updates when placed in low power mode, but it will take longer to start up.

The Verge writes that an Xbox Series console in sleep mode boots up quickly, but uses 10 to 15W of power. With the ‘shutdown’ option, a console takes about 15 seconds to start up, but the console uses about 0.5W. After the update, users can also choose to use the less economical sleep mode again by default in the settings.

Furthermore, after the new update, users will be able to control their Xbox console with the Google Home app. This allows users to navigate the interface, control media playback, and turn the console on and off. Microsoft already provided Google Assistant support for Xbox. From now on, game art can be further hidden in the dashboard.