While all other console controllers on the market use built-in rechargeable batteries, Xbox still allows you to use AA batteries to power them, and new comments from a Duracell spokesman possibly clarify why.
“There has always been this partnership with Duracell and Xbox … it is a constant agreement that Duracell and Microsoft have in place,” Duracell UK marketing manager Luke Anderson, said Optional Stealth in an interview spotted by VGC.
Anderson continues:
[The deal is] for OEM to provide the battery product for the Xbox consoles and also the battery for the controllers. So [deal is] will continue for a while … it’s been going on for a while and I think it needs to last a little bit [more].
This partnership seems to be supported by Duracell’s online marketing campaigns that often feature Xbox controllers. The new Xbox Series X and S, released last November, also come with two Duracell AA batteries, instead of Microsoft’s Xbox rechargeable batteries,
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Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for Kotaku to comment but said MCV / Develop in a statement,
We intentionally offer consumers the choice in their battery solutions for our standard Xbox Wireless Controllers. This includes using AA batteries of any brand, the Xbox rechargeable battery, charging solutions from our partners, or a USB-C cable, which can power the controller when connected to the console or PC.
I was surprised when Microsoft revealed last year that its next generation controllers would still come prepackaged with AA batteries. It is true that the option to choose between using rechargeable and removable batteries and disposable batteries pre-packaged on the spot offers good flexibility.
At the same time, I’ve used several AA battery packs since I won my S Series launch, and the fact that rechargeable packs need to be purchased separately is another barrier to really enjoying that freedom. Why not package new controllers with both options?
Microsoft’s premium controller, the Xbox Elite Wireless 2, costs $ 180 and does not come with either. Like the DualShock 4, Dualsense and Nintendo’s Switch Pro controller, it only has an internal battery that you charge when you plug it in. No freedom of choice, but simple and convenient enough. Potentially less waste too.