Microsoft: Making Xbox Maintenance & Repair More Sustainable

Microsoft is embedding greater circularity and sustainability into its Xbox consoles by expanding repair services.
Following demand from customers, the tech giant is making replacement parts available for purchase at the Microsoft Store and through the Microsoft Repair Hub on iFixit.
It the US, in-person repair options for three Xbox Series X|S consoles began on 20 January.
Alessandra Pistoia, Microsoft Circular Economy Lead, said: “Our Xbox team has announced the expansion of console repair services.
“It takes a village – congratulations to Trista Patterson, Jason Brown and the many people who dedicated their time, mind and passion to make this possible.”
Hitting the sweet spot
By expanding the number of ways players can get support and repair for their Xbox consoles, Microsoft also helps extend the longevity of Xbox devices, reduces waste and promotes re-use.
In a press release, Xbox said it is continuing to improve how it designs, builds, distributes and uses its products to reduce its environmental impact and reach Microsoft’s goal of being a zero waste, carbon negative and water positive company by 2030.
It says: “Finding ways to reduce the environmental footprint of gaming not only helps the environment but also creates benefits for our collective community of players.”
Trista Patterson, Director Sustainability @ Microsoft/Xbox, said: “Genuine sustainability solutions must be three things: economically efficient, socially just, and environmentally sound.
“Interventions that actively prevent waste and emissions _before_ they occur, hit this 'sweet spot' trifecta and thus sit at the centre of our sustainability strategy.
“We couldn't be prouder of the massive transformation our team of teams is driving: to eliminate plastic waste and emissions throughout the product lifecycle.”
What is changing?
Microsoft/Xbox said it has “heard from players that they want more options for support when their Xbox consoles need repair”.
Its expanded repairability programme covers the following Xbox Series X|S console options:
- Xbox Series S – 1TB in Robot White
- Xbox Series X – 1TB Digital Edition in Robot White
- Xbox Series X – 2TB Galaxy Black Special Edition.
On 20 January, uBreakiFix by Asurion became the first Xbox authorised service provider to repair Xbox consoles at its nearly 700 participating stores locations across the US.
In-person Xbox console repairs were previously only possible through the Microsoft Store.
Repair, replace and replenish
Replacement components for the three Xbox Series X|S console options are now available to buy via the Microsoft Store and replacement console parts are also now available online via the Microsoft Repair Hub on iFixit.
Microsoft said: “With the purchase of replacement components previously limited to controller parts and only available through the Microsoft Store, these additional repair options allow players to choose the repairability solution that works best for them, even if their console is out of warranty.”
It added: “Our goal is to eliminate single-use plastics from our packaging by 2025. Packaging for the three Xbox Series X|S console options are now fully paper and fibre-based, eliminating all single-use plastics.”
Energy updates
Between 2020 to 2023, Xbox has reduced energy from console usage and prevented over 1.2 million metric tons of CO2e.
According to US EPA estimates, this reduction prevents emissions equivalent to more than 3 billion car miles (driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle) being released into the atmosphere.
Recent system updates to Xbox consoles have made advancements in how Xbox Series S handles video content.
So far, these improvements have led to an average reduction approaching 10% in power consumption across all media apps on Xbox Series S.
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