[GameSpot] - PS5/Series X: New Study Examines Environmental Impact Of Latest Consoles

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With climate change being one of the greatest existential threats looming over humanity's survival, gamers may wonder what role they play in the fate of the environment. A new study seeks to answer that question, and the findings don't look all that reassuring.

The Natural Resources Defense Council, a US-based non-profit dedicated to climate advocacy, published a study looking at the environmental impact of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The organization found that both consoles use between 160 and 200-plus watts of energy--more than previous generations. They also need roughly the same energy as the TV they're likely plugged into, which uses between 120 and 200 watts depending on size.

Of course, the energy used dips pretty low when either console is low-power mode or on standby. In fact, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S use less than 1 watt in these states, according to the NRDC. However, that changes with Xbox's "Instant On" setting enabled by default and PlayStation's inability to smartly adapt to console inactivity. As a result, the wattage used by both consoles can jump to double-digits if gamers forget to turn them off.

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