Why Xbox controllers still run on AA batteries
Microsoft says AA batteries are a deliberate choice, with an optional $24.99 rechargeable pack, while gamers remain split over the debate.
The facts
- The Xbox Series X was revealed on December 12, 2019, with a controller that still needs a pair of AA batteries, according to Engadget.
- Sony and Nintendo have moved to internal rechargeable batteries; Nintendo switched with the Wii U in 2012.
- Microsoft sells a rechargeable pack separately for $24.99.
- Duracell UK's Luke Anderson described a long partnership with Xbox, but Microsoft did not confirm any deal.
Case notes · Danny's take
Why it matters
This looks like a small gadget quirk, but it is a design choice about who carries the cost. A replaceable battery means a dead controller is a quick fix, not a trip to a charger. Sony and Nintendo's sealed batteries are convenient until the cell fails and you need a whole new controller. Choice beats a single answer, even when half the room disagrees.
For builders
Microsoft's split between AAs in the box and a rechargeable pack on the side is a useful lesson in hardware design. When your users are polarised, ship a default and sell the alternative as an option.
Not financial advice. Do your own investigation.
This story was summarised with AI from Engadget's reporting and checked against our editorial policy. Danny's take reflects his views. Disclaimer.
Danny Walter
Founder of Moon Republic, Volt Terminal and Moon Republic Academy. Author of The Market Is a Crime Scene and After the Applause.