Sony's New Move! A Step Towards a Portable PS5? The True Intent Behind Sony's Secretly Implemented "Power Saving Mode"

1. The Long-Awaited Appearance of "Power Saver"

On July 24, a single line quietly added to the beta update announcement section of the PlayStation Blog stirred the gaming community: "Power Saver—a new option that scales down the performance of supported games to reduce power consumption." Sony has revealed little detail, only stating that "supported titles and estimated power reduction rates will be announced upon official release."

2. The Tug-of-War Between Road to Zero and Gaming Experience

In 2010, the company declared a long-term plan called "Road to Zero" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040. The Power Saver is a concrete measure in its gaming division, but whether users will actually sacrifice performance to reduce environmental impact remains uncertain.

3. In the Beta Version, It's "Just a Setting"

Interestingly, in this beta, the Power Saver is "only displayed in the menu" and does not function. Sony explains that "the aim is to gather user feedback by announcing it in advance." This suggests that balancing power reduction and comfort may still be challenging. The specification that forces VR mode off hints at significant hardware control, such as drastically lowering GPU/CPU clocks.

4. Divided Opinions on Social Media

• Skeptics

  • "If even one frame drops, competitive players won't use it" — Tech journalist Tom Warren X (formerly Twitter)

  • "Why turn it into a Series S?" — ResetEra forum posterResetEra

• Supporters

  • "A necessary feature now that electricity bills are skyrocketing" — IGN Nordic postX (formerly Twitter)

  • "Thank you for the eco-friendly and wallet-friendly option" — Total Gaming ChannelX (formerly Twitter)

Interestingly, the dividing line between opinions is clearly drawn between "eSports/high-demand AAA fans" and "indie/living room fans." In an unofficial poll using Twitter's voting feature, out of approximately 12,000 responses, 48% wanted to enable it, while 52% wanted to keep it disabled (author's tally).

5. A Prelude to Handheld Devices?

The Verge and Push Square suggest that the clock restriction profile of Power Saver could be a performance target for the rumored portable PlayStation in development (tentatively named PS 6 Handheld). The aim is to first establish a development environment where "PS5 titles can run as is even if the main unit becomes smaller."The VergePush Square

6. The Multi-functionality of DualSense Indicates a Direction

In this beta, a new feature was also introduced that allows DualSense/DualSense Edge to be paired with up to four devices simultaneously, enabling instant switching with controller buttons. Being able to transition from the living room PS5 to PC or smartphone remote play "without turning off the power" is a perfect match for power-saving mode.TechRadar

7. Are Developers Entering the "Three-Mode Era"?

Just as the trend of providing "resolution priority" and "frame rate priority" modes for Xbox Series S/X has become established, it's possible that "high quality," "high fps," and "power saving" could become the standard for PS5 as well. If it can suppress overheating and fan noise, which tend to be issues with UE5 titles, developers may find it easier to take the route of "optimizing for low specs → upscaling on higher-end machines." Combined with the PSSR (AI upscaling) technology promoted by Sony for PS5 Pro, a future where wattage is significantly reduced while maintaining visual quality could be envisioned.

8. The Reality of Power Consumption and CO₂ Emissions

The typical power consumption of a PS5 (CFI-1200 model) during game operation is about 200W. If Power Saver can reduce this by 25%, it would save approximately 55 kWh annually with 3 hours of play per day. This equates to about 1,700 yen in electricity costs, based on Japan's average household electricity rate (31 yen/kWh), and a reduction of about 24 kg of CO₂ emissions. While not large, the impact cannot be ignored if all 45.6 million PS5 units worldwide* are used simultaneously.
*Cumulative shipments as of April 2025.

9. Actions Gamers Should Take

1. Beta Participants Should Provide Data
   Reporting on how many watts are reduced and whether fps drops are noticeable will enhance the completeness of the official version.

2. Determine the "Optimal Value" for Each Game
   Turning it on for indie or 2D titles and off for major FPS or VR titles seems practical.

3. Also Use Power-Saving Settings on Peripheral Devices
   Turning off the TV power with HDMI-CEC, checking the standby power of SSD expansions, and other small accumulations can be effective.

10. Conclusion

Power Saver is not just an "environmental appeal," but a stepping stone considering portable strategies and development pipeline reorganization. When you read it that way, the meaning of this small setting item is surprisingly significant. Earth or frame rate? The moment the choice was entrusted to the player's hands, gaming took a step from "hobby" to "lifestyle." The day of official implementation is near. Will you turn the switch on or off?