Climate change is one of the major problems our planet is facing currently. The recent Amazon fire is an example of how climate change is affecting our planet Earth and it is up to us to ‘Save Earth‘. But it seems that at least the gaming industry cares about the planet as Microsoft and Sony have joined hands in an attempt to make more eco-friendly consoles. To make an impact, Sony announced that its next-gen console PS5 will consume almost 8 W less energy when in rest mode. Well, Microsoft has o plans to be left behind in a quest to save the planet as the company has announced that it’s going to make 825,000 Xbox consoles carbon neutral.
As a part of a new United Nations initiative “Playing for the Planet Alliance” , Microsoft along with other big names including the likes of Sony, Twitch, Google Stadia, Rovio, Ubisoft, and others is planning to reduce the carbon emissions by makings 825,000 new Xbox consoles carbon-neutral. This is the first time any gaming tech has come up with carbon-free consoles and is surely a step forward and will further act as an encouragement for other companies too.
You can read about what Microsoft plans to do in great detail here.
Here is what some of the member companies will do to help save the planet:
- Sony — The PS5 will have a “low power” suspend mode, which is one part of Sony’s plan to have more energy effience technology overall. Sony will also “assess and report” their carbon footprint.
- Microsoft — The company will make 825,000 Xbox consoles that are carbon neutral as part of a pilot program. These will be the first game consoles in history to have no carbon impact on the earth. Additionally, Microsoft is releasing a “Built the Better World” program in Minecraft to help people learn more about what they can do to help the cause.
- Google Stadia — There will be a Sustainable Game Development guide for developers to help them implement “green nudges” into the gameplay; but again, it’s unclear what this means.
- Supercell (Clash of Clans) — Will work on carbon impact initiatives to help offset the carbon impact of players charging their mobile devices.
- Wild Works (Animal Jam) — The studio will “integrate restoration elements” in their games. They will also plant trees around the world.
- Green Man Gaming — Will also plant trees.
- Ubisoft — The company will launch in-game “green themes” in unspecified titles, and will also look to source materials from “eco-friendly” factories.
- Sports Interactive (Football Manager) — Will starting using a recycling alternative for future Football Manager games that will eliminate 20 tons of plastic packaging.
- Creative Mobile — Their game ZooCraft will transition to becoming a “conservation-focused game”
- Reliance Games (Little Singham) — The studio will offer in-game events across India.
- iDreamSky — The studio will put “green nudges” in their games.
- E-Line Media (Never Alone), Strange Loop (Eco), and Internet of Elephants (Safari Central) — The companies will “share their expertise of making high impact environmentally-oriented games into the Alliance.”
- Twitch — The company says it will use their streaming service to “spread this message [about climate change] to the global gaming community.”
- Niantic (Pokemon Go) — Will “engage their community to act around sustainability issues.”