All my Xbox360 controllers still work fine, but none of my PS3' Dualshock 3s.

An important thing to note is that the Steam Controller will be user-serviceable and they want to continue their partnership with ifixit

I disagree so much. I never want another AA device.

Hard disagree, AA batteries are passe.

Steam did the right move here.

I like how 8bitdo did it.

They gave you a rechargable battery pack that could optionally be replaced with AA batteries.

Best of both worlds.

I think it is way more inconvenient when you pick up a dead controller and fiddle around with long cables then taking the minuit to swap out AAs. Recharchable AAs are so much more convenient and as you said ensure the controller's longevity. I am still rocking the original steam controller.

In a world where every household has rechargeable AA batteries, absolutely - but until and unless we successfully regulate away disposable batteries this solution (internal battery, easy to replace thanks to Right to Repair) will likely remain the most realistic, environmentally friendly one.

Non-rechargeable batteries is a terrible idea from an ecological point of view. Also, Steam have made considerable effort to make the Steam Deck repairable. I hope they do this with all their new hardware, so replacing the battery won't be a big hassle.

Meh. As long as the lithium battery is as easy to replace as it was to perform other Steam Controller repairs, it shouldn't be a big deal.

Think about how many AA batteries will end up in a landfill over the lifetime of the controller VS the typical lifetime of the lithium battery. The AA batteries lose every time.

Think of it like this: You can replace the battery once every two years (if the controller lasts that long in your sweaty ass hands 🤣) or you can replace the batteries every month... 24 times, adding 48-96 batteries to the landfill in that time.

Yeah. AA batteries suck though! I'd be happy if they used 14500 cells or something. but the form factor was probably the issue, the controller is a chonk in the middle already with the flat battery pack

Li-ion is fine but it should've been removable. The wireless Xbox controller was great how it let you swap the pack and keep going.

My main concern about that is that using AA and AAA form factors promotes the use of disposable dry cell batteries, even if nickel or lithium cells are just as widely available. And, realistically, not even the closest Li-ion form factor is fully compatible with AA, and Ni-MH sucks balls.

The controller is also filled to the gills with hardware. Doesn't look like there's enough volume left for AA or AAA receptacles without giving it an underbelly to rival the Xbox Duke.

The overwhelming shortsightedness of thinking highly polluting AA or AAA batteries are a better choice over a LiON solution pack because one needs to unscrew a couple of screws to replace it is completely unreasonable. AA or AAA are a stupid ask for a controller, it's unnecessary waste.

This is a strange argument to me. I just don't get it.

So. You have the controller, advertised 35+h life on a single charge.

Unless you're some sort of gaming machine, even a no-lifer sleeps.

We'll do a crazy minimum, you sleep 4h a day. that's 20h for gaming. You plug it in when you sleep, a time when no one will be using it and it can be "tethered".

if it's a straight line (it's probably not) 20h/35h gets you down to 42% battery.

Even 2-3 years later, battery should be between 70-80% capacity. If the minimum after a full day of usage, from charged, is 42% from the 35h estimate, in your worn 70% capacity battery you've still got more than 15% spare between days, after accounting for years of degradation.

And then, after using it for 3 years, you might have to contemplate using the hated screwdriver and replacing the battery. And this is only if you've been no-life wrecking this controller for that long. It'll be much better from "regular" gaming usage.

I think this just comes down to undisciplined people, who can't manage to plug their stuff in routinely. I really can't see any other logical reason to feel this way.

And even then, for the people who can't do charging regularly, and don't want to worry about being tethered to a charger/their machines, a $10 power bank from a gas station fixes this issue. I charge my controller from a phone charger, already next to me, whenever it needs it. No one says that you have to explicitly plug it in to whatever you're playing on.

Personally, I think even giving the option of using disposable batteries is irresponsible on the designer's end. Everyone talks about rechargeables, but there's still going to be a percentage of people who just use disposables.

This does make more sense for the frame controllers, as when they die, there's no good/safe way you can still use them, and have them plugged in. even with a power bank the cables are, at best, ungainly, and at worst, an active safety hazard, as you swing them around you while not being able to see them. I've tried using index controllers wired to a power bank I was carrying, and it wasn't good.

I've got the old one that takes AA and can be plugged in.

I own an 8BitDo SN30 Pro+ controller that has a neat feature: It comes with a rechargeable battery back that is user replaceable via a simple back cover, but regular AA batteries can also be used in the same slot instead.

Kinda like an Xbox controller, except that the rechargeable battery was actually included instead of being a separate purchase, and no adapter is needed for either battery types.