According to a Duracell spokesperson, the reason Microsoft's Xbox controllers still continue to use AA batteries is due to an agreement between the two companies.
In an interview with our sister site Stealth Optional, Luke Anderson, Duracell's UK marketing manager said "there’s always been this partnership with Duracell and Xbox… It’s a constant agreement that Duracell and Microsoft have in place."
Read More: Xbox Series X Review: Is This Microsoft's Best Console Ever?
Xbox Controllers Use AA Batteries Because Of Duracell Agreement - Report
"[The deal is] for OEM to supply the battery product for the Xbox consoles and also the controllers’ battery. So that [deal is] going to go on for a while… it’s been going on for a while and I think it needs to go for a while [more],” Anderson explained.
After enquiring with Microsoft, the firm told MCV UK the following:
“We intentionally offer consumers choice in their battery solutions for our standard Xbox Wireless Controllers. This includes the use of AA batteries from any brand, the Xbox Rechargeable Battery, charging solutions from our partners, or a USB-C cable, which can power the controller when plugged in to the console or PC.”
Could Microsoft really be sticking to batteries due to a deal with Duracell? After all, anyone that picked up an Xbox Series S/X will have found two AA batteries from the manufacturer in the box.
It sounds more likely that the partnership means Duracell provide the batteries, but not that the agreement precludes Xbox controllers having rechargeable batteries – especially when the Elite V2 has a built-in internal battery, for example.
It's been a strange week or two for Xbox controllers.
Aside from surveying players about potential new features, Microsoft is the subject of a lawsuit due to the presence of stick drift in various models of Xbox controller.
Find out more here.
The Elite Controller's paddles have also gained support for Steam games.
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