Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Learn more.
Microsoft is helping Xbox developers make greener games
In This Article
Microsoft is launching new tools that would enableXboxdevelopers to monitor the energy consumption of their games in real time.
The latest sustainability efforts from the Xbox-maker would give devs the information necessary to set about reducing the carbon footprint of big hitting games.
Microsoft says it is responding to requests from developers to introduce monitoring tools to help gamers lower their environmental impact while saving money on their electricity bills.
While developers can already monitor metrics like thermal load, frame rate, pixelation and latency in an effort to lower energy consumption, they have requested more tools for optimising their titles to be as green as possible.
“Team Xbox listened, and we are now empowering game developers by providing development tools, global energy and emissions data, and title or studio-specific data insights that will connect purpose to Innovation,” Microsoft says in ablog postfrom GDC (viaEurogamer).
“The Xbox Developer Sustainability Toolkit includes analytical and visual systems, measurement tools, and resources to help creators make informed decisions about energy consumption and carbon emissions, associated with their game designs. The toolkit helps developers to leverage precision engineering feedback to help identify and reduce energy consumption in scenarios when a player doesn’t need it, thus ensuring the player experience is not negatively impacted.”
The studio behindHalo Infinite, 343 Industries, are already using the tools and, by lowering the resolution in one pause menu, the developer was able to reduce energy usage by 15% without impacting the player improvement. And that is only the beginning.
The launch of the tools come afterMicrosoft launched user-facing toolsthat enable users to download games and updates when low-carbon energy is being used by the grid, while also revamping the energy settings to lower consumption and energy bills.
You might like…
Chris Smith is a freelance technology journalist for a host of UK tech publications, including Trusted Reviews. He’s based in South Florida, USA. …
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
