With the next generation of Xbox consoles coming out, Microsoft has a lot of work on its hands to keep up with consumers' demands. The company already stated that it is working to increase the production of Xbox Series X and S consoles so that it can get the product into more households.
However, this might prove to be more problematic in the long run. According to a recent study on next-gen consoles' effects on the environment, the energy consumption that these machines use needlessly wastes energy and will cost the United States a drastic surge in energy costs.
Based on the research conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council, it is estimated that the "instant on" feature for all the Xbox Series S and X consoles would consume 4 billion kilowatts and increase CO2 emissions by 3 million tons by 2025. In perspective, that is about how much energy it takes to keep a large power plant running for a year in the United States.
The instant on feature for the Xbox Series X and S comes as one of the power mode options for consoles. Leaving the instant on feature will draw a total of 9-10 kilowatts of power every day, even when it is not in use. The purpose of this is to save gamers about 10 to 15 seconds of waiting for the console to turn on, versus the average 45 seconds it takes for the Xbox One to power on.
In theory, it does not sound like a lot of power, but when the estimated 30 million console sales for the United States are considered by 2025, it becomes a big deal. Noah Horowitz, the author of the study, calculated that this feature's annual costs could cost the United States another $500 million in energy costs if all the users choose the instant on option.
Some parts of the world are already putting their best efforts into energy saving initiatives, such as Europe enforcing that the power saving mode as the default option. For the rest of the world, a Microsoft CEO has stated to Ars Technica that users are given the choice of the two power options from the beginning and are not forced into one. The company claims that it is committed to energy sustainability, but some might consider this whole function pointless since it only saves about thirty seconds and should be removed anyway. In the end, the pros might not out way the cons, but Microsoft has promised to keep researching and putting efforts into the energy saving mode.