GTG Links No.7 – August 19th

Just in time for the weekend – some reading on cloud gaming, device 'death dates' and a bunch of the latest impacts of heat and drought accross the world.

Cloud Gaming is coming – but in what form?

Xbox Cloud Gaming hourly usage increased by 1800% in the past year

A recap in the cloud.

Windows CentralJez Corden

Xbox has a cloud game streaming service which saw big growth this year (though probably from a very low base) – the question is whether this growth is the herald of a more general mode shift in gaming, or whether it is going to cannibalise the existing mobile gaming niche. In other words, is cloud streaming changing where players prefer to play or is it just expanding the times and places players can squeeze a full game experience into? Tips or research on this topic gratefully recieved.

In the same vein – Logitech is partnering with Tencent to launch a dedicated cloud gaming handheld. Not sure where the market demand is for a device like this (maybe in China, with its already huge mobile gaming scene, which would partly answer the above), but if anyone has the resources to create the market for it, it would be Tencent.

What I've been saying for years and years

Make Sustainability Part of Everybody’s Job

As companies large and small wake up to the urgency of the climate crisis, many are marshaling their resources to reduce their environmental impact and transform their business. But all too often they fail to leverage one of the most powerful and readily available resources they already have - their…

TECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COMDrew Wilkinson

Whether we like it or not, the climate crisis is going to impact everything and everyone, and solutions are going to require all of us to succeed. Wonderful to see this message getting out there more widely:

That does not mean that an organization knows precisely how every employee can find their own unique way to contribute – it means creating the right conditions and incentives to enable the creativity and experimentation required for everyone to figure it out collectively. For example, who could articulate the principles of green software engineering better than software engineers? Who better to define the principles of sustainable design than designers? You don’t have to have sustainability in your job title to come up with the next great idea. Every role at every level will need to figure out how they are distinctively positioned to accelerate this transformation. This is about the democratization of sustainability, grounded in the idea that everyone has something meaningful to contribute.

Democracy, true democracy – the kind where you get to experience and realise the incredible power we have in collective action – once you have experienced it is incredibly addictive. There really is no going back afterwards.

Devices & designed obsolescence

The Washington Post ran a series on device construction, right to repair, etc. One of the better pieces involved figuring out the "death date" of popular devices – calculating how long a gadget will live is really illustrative. Non-replaceable batteries are a big culprit.

The more substantive piece about what to do about it is here:

Our analysis of 14 popular consumer devices found most could stop working in 3 to 4 years because of irreplaceable batteries. Here’s how we get the tech industry to design products that last longer — and do less damage to the environment.

Repair costs less than replacement

Albany passes ‘right to repair’ law for electronics to confront ‘monopoly’ on repair market

The legislation, which still needs to be signed into law by the governor, is believed to be the first of its kind in the United States.

GothamistJake Offenhartz

Gothamist writes up a new report that puts the potential consumer savings (in the US) from greater repairability of digital devices in the billions of dollars:

“allowing American consumers to repair their electronics, rather than replacing them, would save $40 billion annually”

100% Renewables by 2050: 100% Possible!

Researchers agree: The world can reach a 100% renewable energy system by or before 2050

Research from LUT University and 14 additional leading international universities suggest that the new system would be based largely on solar and wind energy, energy storage, sector coupling, and direct and indirect electrification of almost all energy demand. An energy system that is 100% based on…

Helsinki TimesTara

Don't listen to climate Doomers – aka 'Fuck Franzen'

Don’t listen to the climate doomists

Jonathan Franzen’s “end times” narrative only benefits fossil fuel interests.

New StatesmanPhilippa Nuttall

We might need to do something about this though

Hot weather impacts roll on in Europe and Asia

European rivers at some of the lowest levels in hundreds of years. You've probably seen the "hunger stones" that marked previous river lows and came with famine.

You might have missed these pictures of the dire state of the Loire river, however.

Chinese auto-manufacturing in Sichuan province shuts down for a few days due to power shortages from low dam levels.

Auto supply chain hit as extreme heat causes power shortages in China – SupChina

The whole world is suffering from extreme weather and China is no exception, as droughts threaten hydropower and companies that depend on it, and floods and heat waves disrupt daily life and the economy.

SupChinaNadya Yeh

“Soaring temperatures and extended droughts are impacting millions across the country, withering crop yields, and draining water supplies: According to China’s National Climate Center, the intensity of the regional heat waves since June 13 is the strongest since 1961, when the country started to keep complete meteorological records.”

In Spain they did similar things a few weeks back, banning air conditioning being set too low in restaurants, shops, etc. in a bid to curb demand.

Controversy as Spain bans air conditioning from dropping below 27°C

It’s part of measures to slash energy consumption and reduce dependency on Russian gas.

EuronewsLaura Llach

Iran also had a blisteringly hot time this month – with one town reaching the almost unbelievable 53.6ºC (128.5ºF). I experienced a 49ºC day here in late 2019 and that was harrowing. It's hard to imagine life surviving under those conditions.

Meanwhile we are about to have our third year in a row of a negative Indian Ocean Dipole which means yet more rain and floods on the way for the usually parched Australian continent. Three years back to back is a dubious first since records began.

If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, I hope you're staying cool and hydrated.

Greening the Games Industry is a 100% reader supported publication. You can help amplify the work we do here by sharing it with someone you think might find the content interesting. Share it on the socials, tell your friends, all the rest.

Have a great weekend.