> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.xbox.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Gaming Sustainability Halo Infinite Case Studies > 343 Industries dropped pause-menu resolution to 1080p for a 15% power saving with no visible impact, then explored 2.5D menus for ~30% additional savings. **Studio:** 343 Industries\ **Contributors:** Alex Le Boulicaut (Producer), Spencer Kopach (Senior Tech Artist), Andrew Nolan (Graphics Engineer), Trista Patterson (XBOX Director of Sustainability) 343 Industries was **XBOX's first pilot** for A/B experimentation on energy consumption and carbon emissions in game development. Using PIX Power Monitor, the team established a baseline (XBOX Series X at 4K/60 FPS: \~92% GPU, 67.5% Power Load) and iterated from there. ## Armor Hall menus The team profiled the Armor Hall in four stages. ### Stage 1: 4K @ 60 FPS (baseline) * Average GPU: 96.2% * Average Power Load: 67.5% ### Stage 2: 4K @ 30 FPS * Average GPU: 49.2% * Average Power Load: 42.2% * **Power savings: 37.5%** Framerate drops were considered too visible on non-VRR displays and required additional development time — the team moved on to resolution. ### Stage 3: 1080p @ 60 FPS * Average GPU: 34.7% * Average Power Load: 43.5% * **Power savings: 33.6%** UI stayed at native resolution to protect legibility and accessibility. ### Stage 4: 1080p @ 30 FPS * Average GPU: 27% * Average Power Load: 30% * **Power savings: 55.6%** Baseline Power Load 67.5% → 30% — more than halved. > [!NOTE] > > 343 shipped **resolution reduction only** for the Armor Hall — lowest risk to the player experience with meaningful savings. ## Gameplay pause menu During investigations the team realized the pause menu still rendered a full 4K image behind the blurred settings overlay — assets the player couldn't see. Lowering the pause menu to 1080p produced: | Scene | Power draw | Total AC power | | - | - | - | | Pause menu at 4K/60 (before) | 64% GPU+CPU | 185 W | | Pause menu at 1080p/60 (after) | 55% GPU+CPU | 165 W | **15% power saving** with a change invisible to the player. ## 2.5D menus As part of a broader menu overhaul, 343 tested a 2.5D approach: a 2D backplate with camera-correct perspective plus a 3D character in the foreground. ### Merits **Pros** * Minimal components; easy to upgrade. * Full support for UGC characters. * 2D backplates author in Unity, Unreal, Maya, or any DCC. * Backplates can be authored in-house or outsourced. * Load times improve. * Lower power draw for players. **Limitations** * 3D avatars must be lit to match the 2D backplate. * Background cannot support motion. * No DOF on UGC avatars (bake DOF into the backplate instead). ### Power savings (versus a locked 3D baseline of 64.8%) | Internal resolution | Frame rate | 2.5D Power Load | Notes | | - | - | - | - | | 2400 × 1800 | 60 FPS | 47.5% | Dropping internal res prior to upscale + lower FPS delivers most savings | | 1920 × 1080 | 30 FPS | 26.3% | Even at locked higher res, 2.5D provides significant savings | | 1920 × 1080 | 60 FPS | 35.8% | Dropping internal res prior to upscale delivers more savings | Locking the resolution upper limit and switching to 2.5D delivered **\~30% savings**; further reducing internal resolution unlocked more. ### Development cost * **8 people** required for evergreen support (11–17 fewer than the previous 3D setup). * Total time to completion: **3–4 weeks**. * Estimated time cost saved: **2–3 months**. ## Takeaways for other studios * **Start with resolution.** Lowest player-visibility risk in still or minimally animated scenes. * **Look for hidden rendering waste.** 343 was rendering 4K behind a blurred pause overlay. * **2.5D menus can reduce both team and hardware cost.** Fewer people to maintain them and lower GPU load. * **Protect UI accessibility.** Keep UI on its own buffer at native resolution. ## Related case studies * [Call of Duty](https://docs.xbox.com/build/game-principles/sustainability/case-studies/case-studies-cod.md) * [Fortnite & Unreal Engine](https://docs.xbox.com/build/game-principles/sustainability/case-studies/case-studies-fortnite.md) * [The Elder Scrolls Online](https://docs.xbox.com/build/game-principles/sustainability/case-studies/case-studies-elder-scrolls-online.md) * [Energy Efficiency Essentials](https://docs.xbox.com/build/game-principles/sustainability/energy-efficiency-essentials.md) ## Related topics - [Gaming Sustainability Fortnite Case Study](https://docs.xbox.com/build/game-principles/sustainability/case-studies/case-studies-fortnite.md) - [Gaming Sustainability Call of Duty Case Study](https://docs.xbox.com/build/game-principles/sustainability/case-studies/case-studies-cod.md) - [Gaming Sustainability Gears Of War Reloaded Case Study](https://docs.xbox.com/build/game-principles/sustainability/case-studies/case-studies-gears-of-war-reloaded.md) - [Gaming Sustainability The Elder Scrolls Online Case Study](https://docs.xbox.com/build/game-principles/sustainability/case-studies/case-studies-elder-scrolls-online.md) - [Gaming Sustainability For Honor Case Study](https://docs.xbox.com/build/game-principles/sustainability/case-studies/case-studies-for-honor.md)