New Xbox Series X update speeds up the console significantly
Microsoft has halved the amount of time it takes for the Xbox Series X|S to turn on
➡️ The Shortcut Skinny
🆕 A new Xbox Series X update reduces the overall startup time
⌛ The bootup time has gone from around 12 seconds to 7 seconds
🌿 The new update should encourage more people to use Energy Saver mode
A new Xbox Series X update is set to reduce the overall startup time of the console by half, meaning you can get back to gaming quicker than ever before.
The update is currently available to Xbox Insiders and cuts the console’s startup time from around 12 seconds to about seven seconds — which is a notable speed increase.
Insiders had their suspicions that the console was booting up faster than before, and now we have confirmation. Xbox engineering lead Eden Marie and Xbox integrated marketing director Josh Munsee confirmed the news on Twitter.
“Someone asked me about this, and I’ll admit I had no clue, but I checked, and yes, the boot animation and cold startup time in general on Xbox Series X|S consoles has been shortened in the latest insider builds!” Marie tweeted. “Who else noticed?”
“Can confirm,” replied Munsee. “ Worked with @harrisonhoffman and @jakerose27 to create a shorter boot up animation (~4s) from the original boot up animation (~9s), helping to reduce the overall startup time.”
💨 Now that’s fast
Back in March, Microsoft announced that Energy Saver mode on Xbox Series X would be able to download system and game updates – a previously reserved feature for the more power-hungry Standby mode.
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Most gamers opt for Standby mode for the near-instantaneous bootup times, but this new Xbox update should make Energy Saver a no-brainer for most. After all, less than 10 seconds is barely enough time to get settled on the couch or turn your TV to the correct input.
Energy Saver mode consumes about 20 times less power than Standby mode and is now the default option when players initially set up their console. If you’re concerned about the rising cost of living and want to trim your electricity bills, it’s well worth doing.
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To enable Energy Save Mode, go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Sleep Mode & Startup’ > ‘Sleep Mode’ > ‘Energy saver’.
🗣️ More updates on the way
Microsoft continues to improve the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S via system updates, adding new features and improving the overall user experience. The company recently announced that Discord voice chat integration is on the way, letting Xbox owners chat with friends who play on PC and mobile using the popular communication app.