The NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), a US-based non-profit organisation, has published a report about the energy consumption of next-gen consoles, most notably taking aim at the Xbox Series X|S's 'Instant-On' mode.
In case you aren't aware, this refers to the standby mode you choose when setting up the console for the first time, with 'Instant-On' promising quick start-ups and the ability to manage your console from your mobile device, while 'Energy Saving' removes some of these luxuries in return for, well... saved energy.
The NRDC's biggest concern with 'Instant-On' is that it's "pre-selected in everywhere except Europe", with the firm predicting "most users will likely accept that choice, rather than opt out," leading to some serious energy wastage.
"We ran the numbers and the environmental harm relative to user benefit is off the charts. Based on modelling we performed with the assumption that two-thirds of users select the default instant on setting, the Xbox Series S/X consoles are poised to waste almost 4 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in the U.S. alone through the end of 2025 when in standby mode and NOT being used."
The organisation does, however, give Microsoft plenty of credit for how the consoles identify inactivity, saying the company does "an excellent job designing how its consoles automatically go into the low-power standby mode," encouraging Sony to improve how the PS5 enters this mode when left in an inactive state after media playback.
"We encourage Sony to investigate engineering solutions that can shorten the time period until an inactive console enters its low power standby mode during media playback, as Microsoft already has, while maintaining a good user experience."
What are your thoughts on this? Do you use Instant-On? Let us know in the comments below.
[source nrdc.org, via gamespot.com]
Comments 15
They raise a good point actually. If it's pre-selected in a lot of regions then most people will not care to change it and that will lead to energy waste. This should be easily fixable though, just change the setting for all newly manufactured consoles for these regions.
I haven't had it turned on because it's a waste of power. With the speed of this bad boy i don't see the need for instant on. I turn on the Xbox, power on the TV, switch to the right input and bam... It's ready and waiting for me and i just quick resume my game in a few seconds... pretty instant to me. If I was doing a massive download overnight i could turn it on but i found that nothing has needed over 6 hours and I can leave it to turn off after 6 hours of inactivity in the regular mode.
Save that planet folks
For me, as for those with slow internet connection, the only justification of Instant-on is downloading huge game files/updates. Other than that, there is no point in putting the consoles on Instant-on. Honestly, I personally don't care about these heavily advertised "quick resume" or instant-on features. I can wait more than 10 seconds for my console to boot up.
what about the auto update?
I hate it when I want to play and have to wait until the update is downloaded and installed
There are so many more power consuming devices and places than consoles, yet consoles and gamers end up being targets again. I keep mine in instant-on mode at all times and they can sue me.
@gollumb82 Totally agree. In my house my wife and daughter will dry their hair with a hairdryer for 30 minutes everyday between the two of them. When the clothes can't get out of the dryer fast enough and just sit, she will run a shorter cycle to "fluff them up". My house came with electric heaters on the roof edges to help melt the snow. All of this is not entirely necessary, but nice-to-haves. We can all think of different things in our homes.
My Series X sitting with Instant On by default and not changed by me? There's way bigger fish to fry in my house than that device!
NRDC is trolling C.R.Y.P.T.O.M.I.N.E.R.S, lol =)
I always use instant on currently because it charges two head torches over USB I use to walk the dog at night. When I don’t need the torches as it’s lighter I’ll use full off mode.
Oh and TVs are amongst the most energy consuming devices in your house.
I’ve had mine in instant on since I’ve had one 🙂
I believe the article was incorrectly translated. The original transcript is here:
All of these "non-profits" are the same. Of all the colossal wastes of energy in every fascet of everything in life, down to the fact that they've built up my area into an endless sea of housing and offices and the nearest shopping is half an hour away in each direction through gridlock by car......and they're going to go after Xboxes that take a few watts in standby mode?! The laptop they wrote their stupid complaint on consumes more power in standby. They wanted attention so they picked a popular/trending product to pick on to get them attention.
Instant on isn't strictly necessary on Series X, unlike how it really was on the X1 family, but some games don't support Quick Resume (WD Legion), auto updates, especially for those with big libraries require it. Remote play requires it. The device can't exactly not be on to do these things. It runs low power, cool, quiet, it kicks in the fan every so often to expel heat and probably do some housekeeping.
I certainly hope these people don't go out to bars and enjoy the night life. Oh the energy we could save shutting them all down and turning the land into co-op farming sites. It's quite a bit more than some Xboxes!
I would really just like to know when and where I'll be able to buy a Series X without it being a big hassle.
Funny, because I remember the first major Series X OS update in December including a patch that drastically dropped energy usage in standby mode. https://thesaxon.org/xbox-series-x-update-reduces-standby-power-consumption/16499/ Post patch claims 10 watts instead of 28.
My Xbox will stay instant on. Not because of startup time.
But for automatic updates. And remote installation of games through the app. So that games are ready to play once I do sit down with some time to spare.
I always leave my xbox on instant on. Automatic updates and it starting just a little bit quicker is worth it to me.
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