Updated

Updated · Xbox.com · Jun 10

Xbox Insiders Test 20X Energy-Saving Update and New Social, Personalization Features

Updated

Updated · Xbox.com · Jun 10

Xbox Insiders Test 20X Energy-Saving Update and New Social, Personalization Features

Q: Is Xbox's new energy-saving default a true environmental win or a subtle downgrade to the user's instant-on experience?

Xbox’s new default is both a real environmental gain and a modest hit to convenience. On the environmental side, the case is strong. Microsoft says the “Shutdown (energy saving)” setting can cut off-state power use by up to 20 times compared with Sleep mode. Reporting tied to Xbox power use shows why that matters: a Series X in standby can draw roughly 29W, versus about 2W when effectively off but still able to handle updates. Across millions of consoles, that reduction is meaningful for household electricity use and for emissions tied to idle power. It also fits Microsoft’s broader pledge to reduce Xbox’s carbon footprint. The trade-off is the loss of the classic instant-on feel. Sleep mode exists to let the console wake almost immediately, support remote features, and feel always ready. Moving users by default to energy-saving shutdown means a fuller startup cycle, even if Xbox has shortened boot times in recent years. For players who jump in and out frequently, that is a noticeable downgrade in immediacy. Still, this is not a hard lock. Microsoft is only rolling the change to Insiders for now, and users can switch their power setting back at any time. The company also says overnight updates and performance are unaffected, which softens the downside. So the policy is best understood as a deliberate trade-off: a genuine energy-saving win at scale, paired with a small but real reduction in convenience for users who value instant access most.

3 articles · Updated · Xbox.com · Jun 10

Select Xbox Insiders began testing a console update that adds mutual-friend discovery, richer My games & apps customization, direct wishlisting from Game Cards, and revised power settings.
Mutual friends now appear on user profiles—subject to privacy settings—and non-friends can see how many connections they share, making it easier to find people met in multiplayer or across the Xbox community.
My games & apps now supports poster-style artwork, selectable status icons, and separate Home and library personalization sections, with new menu shortcuts aimed at faster customization.
Xbox is also moving some Series X|S and Xbox One consoles in Sleep mode to the Shutdown energy-saving option, which the company says can cut off-state power use by up to 20X without affecting overnight updates.