Microsoft announced that it is working to ensure the greenness of its Xbox consoles in more ways than one, and there is an update waiting in the wings that makes it the first carbon aware gaming platform.
"Being carbon aware means reducing carbon footprint by optimizing updates and downloads to run at a time when the console can use the most renewable energy," explained the team on a post to Xbox Wire. "This decreases fossil fuel dependency and CO2 emissions, and could potentially save you money." Indeed, Xbox is determined to becoming a carbon negative, water positive and zero waste company by 2030 and the Xbox Energy Saver mode is another instance of it committing to its values.
Everybody benefits - users save their pennies, steps are taken to minimise the effect of climate change, and you get a fuzzy feeling in your heart. Everybody... but the naysayers who want the Earth to pop like a little kernel of corn in a hot pan. And the kitchen is also on fire.
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Check out the cinematic trailer for Hogwarts Legacy, which comes to Xbox Series X and S on 10 February, here:
"First gas stoves, then your coffee, now they're gunning for your Xbox," criticised Republican Senator Ted Cruz in a Tweet with Young America’s Foundation denouncing the update as an example of "the woke brigade" swaying the video game industry. "Just another small marker on the chute we are zooming down where every functionality, experience, and general service level degradation is celebrated as a great and glorious victory for The Planet/Justice/etc.," added commentator Rick DeVos.
If this wasn't odd enough, American Greatness editor and publisher Chris Buskirk argued that Xbox's carbon aware update rescinds the free will of the console user. "You’ll own nothing and you’ll love it. ‘Deciding what to do with my so-called ‘free time’ gave me anxiety but now that MSFT-owned OpenAI orders my days I’m worry free,’" he said. If only an Xbox setting gets them that riled up, I wonder what they'll do when they hear about recycling. Does that also bar me from buying brand new as is my right as a human being?
Featured Image Credit: Microsoft, DisneyTopics: Xbox