The highly-anticipated PlayStation 5 is set to be the most sustainable PlayStation since the Classic thanks to its 1.5x performance-per-watt GPU, new research reveals.
The console will boast a far lower CO2 footprint than the upcoming Xbox Series X; while the PS5 is estimated to emit 0.022kg of CO2 equivalent per hour, the Series X’s larger graphics processing unit (GPU) could result in hourly emissions of 0.07kg/CO2e.
The analysis shows that gamers can cut their carbon footprint by a staggering 95.6% by choosing to download a game rather than purchasing a boxed copy. A physical game emits 0.39kg of CO2e via manufacturing, while digital downloads produce 0.017kg.
The games industry saw a significant increase in digital downloads in 2019, which accounted for 83% of all game sales last year. In the UK the physical sales of video games dropped by 19.8%, whilst digital sales grew by 1.1% to generate £3.17 billion in revenue.
The higher CO2e footprint of boxed games stems from the polycarbonate, polypropylene and polyethylene plastics used in production, while console emissions can be calculated by looking at the average power usage.
Converting the average power usage of each console into CO2 emissions reveals that the PlayStation Classic is the most eco-friendly, while Xboxes account for the highest carbon footprint on average with 0.031kg/CO2e per hour.
Most polluting consoles released to date
Looking at the 1.5 million physical units sold of the most popular game in 2019 – FIFA 20 – reveals that 595,395kg of CO2e was produced as a result of manufacturing the 102,000kg of plastic required for the boxed cases and coated discs.
On average, FIFA 20 is played for 7 hours and 50 minutes on the PS4, which results in 0.266kg of CO2e. These emissions could drop to 0.172kg if played on the upcoming PS5 – representing a 35% smaller carbon footprint per player.
With 21 gaming companies – including Sony – having pledged to reduce their collective CO2 footprint by more than 30 million tonnes by 2030, it’s crucial that major console companies continue to prioritise sustainable power usage and quick download times moving forward.
To read more about the environmental impacts of digital downloads and plastic production in Console Carbon Footprint, visit: https://www.slotsonlinecanada.com/most-eco-friendly-games-console/
Tl;dr
- Sony’s PS5 will be the most sustainable console released in 2020, cutting Xbox Series X emissions by more than two thirds (68.6%), new research shows.
- Console Carbon Footprint reveals the environmental impact of producing physical game discs compared to digital downloads across various platforms.
- Producing physical copies emits more than twenty times the CO2 emissions of digital downloads, which made up 83% of video game sales last year.
- Nintendo consoles are the most environmentally friendly to run on average, whilst the PS3 Original is the most polluting platform to date.
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