No, the Xbox does not have an agreement with Duracell, which means that you need to use AA batteries in the controllers

Amid new speculation caused by comments from a Duracell spokesman, IGN understands that there is no agreement that forces Xbox to use AA batteries in its controllers. Speaking of Optional Stealth, Duracell’s marketing manager in the UK, Luke Anderson, sparked speculation by saying: “There has always been this partnership with Duracell and Xbox … It is a constant agreement that Duracell and Microsoft have in place […] [The deal is] for the OEM to supply 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]. “

Many interpreted this to mean that the aforementioned agreement was the only reason why Xbox uses AA batteries in its controllers, and some speculated that this could change that once the agreement was concluded. However, sources tell IGN that this is inaccurate.

Duracell batteries are included with Xbox controllers, and Xbox was in fact part of Duracell OEM, a partnership program run by the battery manufacturer, but this appears to be a by-product of Microsoft’s decision to use AA batteries, rather than its own. cause. Contacted for comment, a Microsoft spokesman said:

Have you ever played the Xbox Series S?

YEANOT

“We intentionally offer consumers the choice of 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. “

That message echoes the words of Xbox Series X designer Jason Ronald last year, when he explained why Xbox controllers still use AA batteries, saying that, ultimately, it was about flexibility for gamers.

Neither Anderson nor Duracell OEM responded to a request for comment from IGN at the time of publication.

Joe Skrebels is the Executive News Editor at IGN. Follow him on Twitter. Do you have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Send an email to [email protected].