In an effort to prevent another red ring debacle, Microsoft has taken necessary steps to handle potential Xbox One overheating issues. According to General Manager of Console Development Leo del Castillo, the console will automatically adjust to cool down the system in the event it is overheating.
Speaking to Gizmodo, he explained:
One thing that we have more flexibility with. With the architecture of the Xbox One, is that we can dial back the power of the box considerably. We had a little less flexibility with the 360. And so basically, if we couldn’t dissipate the heat, there wasn’t a whole lot of leverage we could pull to keep the heat from being generated, so we had a limited amount of time before it just shut down. Xbox One can actually dial it back to a lower power state, so low in fact that it can in a mode that uses virtually no air flow.
In addition, the console's fan will aid in keeping the box cool, as expected. "The way we designed the box, we don’t actually intend it to ever have to go to maximum speed under normal environmental conditions," del Castillo added. "But there is overhead. So we’ll allow the fan to go all the way up to its maximum speed and if that solves the condition without the user having to do anything."
Here's to hoping the initial batches of Xbox One consoles don't prove to be problematic for consumers.
