Why does the Xbox Controller still use Batteries and how Will Dualsense's Success Affect its Future?  

Why does the Xbox Controller still use Batteries? 

Is it Duracell’s fault after all?

In the last few hours, a report by Stealth Optional has been circulating on the internet, stating that the Xbox controllers are still using removable batteries due to a long-term agreement with Duracell.

This comes from the statements of Duracell's marketing manager in the United Kingdom, Luke Anderson, who stressed:

There's always been this partnership with Duracell and Xbox... it's a constant agreement that Duracell and Microsoft have in place.

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.

This statement took over the internet and so Microsoft rushed to clarify the situation. Specifically, as reported by Eurogamer, no, it is not Duracell's fault that the Xbox controllers have removable batteries. More specifically, Microsoft stated:

What it comes down to is when actually talking to gamers, it's kind of polarising and there is a strong camp that really wants AAs. So just giving flexibility is the way to please both sets of people... You can use a rechargeable battery pack and it works just like it does on the Elite, but it is a separate thing.

So, as Microsoft claims, it intentionally offers consumers choice in their battery solutions for its standard Xbox Wireless Controllers. This includes the use of AA batteries from any brand, the Xbox Rechargeable Battery, charging solutions from their partners, or a USB-C cable, which can power the controller when plugged into the console or PC. Because, in conclusion, batteries may be short-lived, but they can also be more easily replaced than an internal power cell, which will overtime fade and die.

So, as Microsoft says, the company isn’t forced by Duracell to use batteries. It’s happening due to its own choice. However, this is not the first time this week that Xbox controllers have come to the fore...

Dualsense on the Spotlight

Microsoft conducted a poll on whether platform players would like the company to adopt some of the special features of DualSense.

Since PS5’s controller has taken the industry by storm, offering countless new features and providing a more interactive gaming experience, Microsoft is thinking about doing the same thing. 

After all, so far the DualSense controller of the PS5 has managed to be adored by both critics and gamers. The controller has plenty of interesting new features, such as adaptive resistance triggers, tactile feedback, touchpad, microphone, speaker, and gyroscope, which are absent from the controller that comes with the new Microsoft consoles, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.

In fact, Phil Spencer has already congratulated Sony on the DualSense a few weeks ago. Now, as it turns out, Microsoft is considering a more drastic upgrade of its own controller. According to TechRadar, various users of the Xbox ecosystem were invited to participate in a survey that, among other things, asked if they knew about the special features of DualSense. It seems that the company seeks feedback before making an important decision.

We still do not know if Microsoft intends to upgrade the Xbox controller. Possibly the company is considering the next generation of its consoles or possibly the 'Series 3' of its Elite Controller. But everything is possible, so stay tuned!