Sony to replace PS3 controllers

By Ellie Gibson Published 20 October, 2006

'When and if' batteries go.

Sony has told our sister site, GamesIndustry.biz, that the company will provide a service to replace wireless PS3 controllers "when and if" their lithium batteries degrade.

A report on GamesRadar.com observed that the pads don't feature removable battery packs, rendering them "effectively useless" as wireless controllers after a certain number of charges.

This, the article claimed, would leave consumers "forced to shell out" for replacements.

But a Sony spokesperson told GI.biz, "This is a purely speculative story and is largely untrue. The latest generation of Lithium Polymer batteries hardly suffer any memory effect at all, so it'll be many years before there's any degradation in terms of battery performance."

The spokesperson went on to confirm, "When and if this happens, then of course we will be providing a service to exchange these items."

A European price point for the pads has yet to be announced, but yesterday SCEA announced they will retail for US$ 49.99. It was also confirmed that PS3 owners will be able to charge and use their controllers via a supplied USB cable.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (57) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ManicDrunkMonk #1 5 years ago

    Unusual for Sony to give you everytyhing you need from the start. I assumed they would go the Microsoft route of having rechargable battery packs sold seprately.

    Ooo First!
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/06 @ 12:53

  • MadMirko #2 5 years ago

    I certainly believe them here, Sony are experts in battery technolo...

    Nevermind.

  • mkreku #3 5 years ago

    Hmm, ok so the controller might catch fire in my hand.. or in my couch while I'm off to the loo.. But that doesn't matter because Sony has promised me a new one!!

  • asphaltcowboy #4 5 years ago

    Well, that's ok then :)

  • MadMirko #5 5 years ago

    Hm, upon reading the article again. The person said they would "offer a service". How much is that service going to cost, and how long would it take to replace the battery in a controller?

    I remember from my earliest iPod what a fucking hassle it can be to send your stuff in to the manufacturer and wait a few weeks until you get it back.
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/06 @ 13:06

  • JohnnyWashnGo #6 5 years ago

    Seriously, how hard would it have been to engineer removable and replaceable batteries for them?

    It seems beyond belief that they thought a hardwired battery would be a good idea.

    Fools

  • Knot #7 5 years ago

    Non removable battery packs ? What a farce, especially when looking at Sony's recent battery issues :(

  • Spanky #8 5 years ago

    Innit madmirko, they also offer a ps2 repair service... and that certainly ain't free.

  • Beano #9 5 years ago

    A detachable battery would be the best solution, but hey... many MP3 players and other much higher priced gadgets have build-in and non-replaceble batteries also. No big deal!

  • space_ace #10 5 years ago

    free if you didn't import
    lol

  • crickson #11 5 years ago

    Seems Gamesradar strikes again!

  • groovychainsaw #12 5 years ago

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't lithium batteries lose their capacity even if you never use them and just leave them on a shelf for 3-4 years? This could be costly for sony if everyone decides to send theirs in for replacement. Still, I guess its like the 'cashback' offers, it osund's good, but only about 5% of people actually take companies up on the offer.

  • Lim-Dul #13 5 years ago

    Polymer-based batteries hardly degrade - what a pile of bullshit. Every person who owns a new mobile phone (and all of them have polymer-based batteries) can testify that you need to replace them more often than "once in a couple of years" - especially if you are using and recharging them on a regular basis.

  • asphaltcowboy #14 5 years ago

    I love the "if" as though they will never run out! Awesome!

  • Lim-Dul #15 5 years ago

    Yeah - what I'd rather have heard was like: we will replace your PS3 with another console when and if it turns out to be an overpriced, steaming pile of crap. (stressing the "when" a bit more than the "if";) ;-)
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/06 @ 13:29

  • Shinji #16 5 years ago

    Every person who owns a new mobile phone (and all of them have polymer-based batteries) can testify that you need to replace them more often than "once in a couple of years"

    I count three devices sitting on my desk right now which use lithium polymer batteries and I've not noticed any significant degradation in battery life over between four and 18 months of use. It's the best battery tech I've ever come across in portable devices, by quite a margin. I'm sure it has its downsides under certain conditions, or whatever, but it's really rather bloody good on a whole.

  • Lim-Dul #17 5 years ago

    I don't deny it being good - but is it good enough not to let consumers have the option of replacing batteries? I mean - most devices provide you with that option.

    Well - whatever - this will just fuel the market of non-official controllers - I can already see that big shiny sticker on controller boxes - "Additional Features: Batteries you can replace!". ;-)
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/06 @ 13:40

  • rogermellie #18 5 years ago

    I'm sure sooner or later there will be an aftermarket kit to replace the battery, much like the iPod.

    I just hope they don't have anything in common with their laptop batteries!

  • Zuiyo #19 5 years ago

    I have a PDA with a Li-ion (Lithium Ion) battery and if anything, it lasts longer now than when new. Does this count as lithium polymer?

  • Feanor #20 5 years ago

    I prefer wired controllers, anyway.

  • spongebob #21 5 years ago

    I bet you haters will find something bad about this as well.

  • ecureuil #22 5 years ago

    Hang on, Sony are offering to replace any controllers for free, if the battery degrades, and you people are STILL finding a way to bash Sony? For fucks sake people, they're doing a good thing here, give them some credit here because they clearly deserve it.

  • peterfll #23 5 years ago

    No, YOU wait a minute - where do they say they'll replace them for FREE??

  • brooza #24 5 years ago

    By the time the PS3 is launched over here, Sony will be experts at replacing batteries

  • gth #25 5 years ago

    Every person on earth with a screwdriver is able to replace the battery by themself.

  • asphaltcowboy #26 5 years ago

    Yeah, if you can get hold of the battery!

  • Lim-Dul #27 5 years ago

    No, YOU wait a minute - where do they say they'll replace them for FREE??

    Exactly. The said something about "offering a service to replace the controllers". I don't care if they will be replacing controllers for the price of the battery. And most people won't be aware of this service at all. Besides - replacing a controller because the battery is empty can be compared to replacing a car because the ashtray's full...

  • #28 5 years ago

    I predict by "service" they mean a similar service to the iPod one.

    Thing is, it may be economically viable to pay £30-40 to extend the life of your £250 device, it is not viable to spend £10-20 (I predict, could be more) on a £40-50 device.

    And I have found all batteries degrade eventually. Entropy's a bitch.

  • lance.carter #29 5 years ago

    FFS, get off Sony's back you lot.

    This controller should give you 30,000 hours of gaming. Even if it gives just 10,000 gaming hours - that's seven years play at 4 hours per day. If it does last 30,000 hours, then that's 20 years gaming. AND you know you will have a different console in 5-10 years time.

    It's just any old excuse to have a gripe isn't it.

    Personally, i think 30 hours from one charge...that's fantastic. The fact that it recharges itself in 2.5 hours...great. It's said to be light...nice one.

    arrrr....that's better.

    Now to perhaps the only fair concern...if you tuck your PS3 and controller in the loft when PS4 is out...will the battery leak..like olde worlde batteries used to do?

  • urban #30 5 years ago

    yeah so up yours gamesradar

  • moggsy #31 5 years ago

    The 360's controller offers the best solution - 2 AA batteries. Completely standard and you can bung rechargeable batteries in if you want (which is what I do).

    Putting a battery in a sealed unit is never a good thing.

  • SeesThroughAll #32 5 years ago

    Gamesradar is part of the MS propaganda machine, wouldn't expect them to say anything nice about anything Sony related anyway...
    Edited by 1 at 20/10/06 @ 16:04

  • JackB #33 5 years ago

    I have an extra battery for my 360 and a charger, so I just swap batteries when I start to run out of juice. On the PS3, I'll be plugging in the wire to recharge. Often while I'm still playing, which is a bit annoying.

    Also, I've seen many devices where it's not so easy to "take apart" and try to replace something, that's not meant to be replaced by the consumer.

    I imagine Sony will be selling a few extra controllers out of this. Having the batteries non-replaceable probably lowers their manufacturing costs a bit, but between than and taking out rumble, why aren't they lower priced?

  • F1Tom #34 5 years ago

    AA batterys degrade faster

  • Sko #35 5 years ago

    "Non removable battery packs ? What a farce, especially when looking at Sony's recent battery issues :("
    Remember folks, when your controller starts dripping hot gobs of plastic onto your lap, place it carefully in the nearest available bucket of sand and turn the PS3 off. Do _not_ grit your teeth and try to finish the level ;)

  • KD #36 5 years ago

    "Sony controllers are built to last. I've never had one go wrong yet."

    I can say now they dont last getting thrown against a wall very well :p

  • BartonFink #37 5 years ago

    So how much does a hand replacement cost these days? Could work out rather expensive for Sony. ;)

  • Derblington #38 5 years ago

    "Besides - replacing a controller because the battery is empty can be compared to replacing a car because the ashtray's full..."

    No it can't.

  • haowan #39 5 years ago

    I thought this was gonna be about how they thought the batarang controller was going to come back in.

  • Lex_Luthor #40 5 years ago

    Wait a sec... Sony... batteries... Uh oh!

    Ah well, roll on(supposed) third party PS3 controllers with rumble I guess :)

  • Psychotext #41 5 years ago

    Rumble wont be supported in games so not really much point in having third party controllers that support it.

  • Derblington #42 5 years ago

    The rumble feature is seriously overrated imo. Having used the PS3 pad I'm perfectly happy without it. It was good when introduced because it was new but it's never been used particularly well outside of a handfull of titles and it doesn't add any kind of immersion. Time for something new...

    The battery thing is overblown nonsense too. The pad is too small to have a big battery pack on the back of it. They've put it inside and it looks tidy, if it dies I'll get a new controller. By the time it dies they'll be much cheaper anyway and if you get a few for multiplayer it won't really matter.

  • tonynibbles #43 5 years ago

    @lance.carter

    Fucking ay!
    Too right! /what he said.

  • Edward_Gamer #44 5 years ago

    ALL rechargeable batteries have memory effects that will eventually make them USELESS!!!

    Lithium batteries are notorious for needing to be replaced, and many times this happens sooner rather than later.

    The Playstation 3 controller is terrible, just because it doesn't have Vibration.

    The fact that the Playstation 3 wireless controller uses a lithium battery that is NOT replaceable is TERRIBLE!

    This means that one day, you will be playing a game, and then, all of a sudden, your controller will be 100% useless! You will NOT be able to just put new batteries in. Instead, you will be forced to mail your controller back to Sony, and wait weeks for them to send you a new one!

    That SUCKS.

    Sony SUCKS!!!

    Playstation 3 SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • dcangel #45 5 years ago

    I think it's fair to say that battery technology has improved to the point where the so-called "memory effect" is no longer a major issue. More of a problem with lithium-polymer batteries is that their maximum charge capacity declines irreversibly with age, as other posters have rightly pointed out - but given the projected lifetime of the hardware, you'll all more than likely have new consoles before any of this becomes remotely problematic.

    At least Sony is offering an exchange program in the event that batteries do explo... uh, sorry, fail earlier than expected.
    Edited by 1 at 21/10/06 @ 00:04

  • BartonFink #46 5 years ago

    Edward I suggest a bit of reading before spouting crap:

    Memory Effects (Voltage Depression)

    You are right about Li-Ion batterys though they are pretty bad if you don't treat them properly. So much so that they may assplode. Li-Ion batteries

  • Daikon #47 5 years ago

    Why on earth can't the batteries be replaced? This is a major oversight.
    What happened, did Sony outsource the controller's design to Apple?

  • dcangel #48 5 years ago

    @Daikon - I'd wager Apple have used fixed batteries rather than replaceables for a similar reason; i.e. You can manufacture the battery to fit the device it's used in, thus minimising any unsightly bulges in the device's otherwise svelte profile. And given improvements in battery technology, it's no longer so necessary to have replaceable batteries when a fixed battery will probably last for the life of the product under normal use. It's hardly what I'd call a major oversight.

    Let's examine the figures a bit. Given that you'll only need to charge the battery every 30 hours or so, and assuming that most people probably aren't likely to play games for more than 4 hours or so a day, that works out around 1 full charge/discharge cycle a week. Modern lithium batteries can be recharged a couple of hundred times before there's a significant drop in charge capacity, so let's imagine you put yours through a full charge/discharge cycle 300 times before you start noticing a reduction in battery life. That's still a service life of nearly 6 years, which is hardly a thing to worry about.

    The only time I can see a hardwired battery being a problem is if the battery actually malfunctions in some fashion, in which case you end up with a Sixaxis-shaped paperweight. ;)

  • Aurifex. #49 5 years ago

    I like the bit "largely untrue" which bit is un true then.

  • Psi #50 5 years ago

    so why didn't they replace the ps1 and ps2 when the lazers fucked up then? if they admit their gear can be a bit ropey. fing cd transports are crap, hope blueray are better.

  • dcangel #51 5 years ago

    Gods, I don't like some of Sony's decisions this time around, but it's not as if there have never been cases of defective hardware on initial manufacturing runs. It happens. Besides, this isn't Sony offering to replace faulty hardware - this is Sony offering to replace controllers (which, I might add, they have no obligation to do) when their batteries die. Get a grip! :D

  • Lawlost #52 5 years ago

    hurray for sony who are winning over gamers throughout Europe. Delay the launch of the PS3, get the lawyers onto the grey importers and finish off with the 'promise' to replace controllers when the batteries blow up... I mean dies. look at the small print i am sure this promise will only be fulfilled if it is inside the one year warranty.

  • Razz #53 5 years ago

    Sony controllers are built to last. I've never had one go wrong yet.

    AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA! LMFAO! XD

    /bungs another brand new Silver PS2 controller in mass grave

  • NegativeZero #54 5 years ago

    What's the bet that this 'service' will cost $49.95 + postage?

  • Psi #55 5 years ago

    honestly are sony trying to screw it up themselves? because it would take a complete moron to do what they are doing.

  • Hog-lumps #56 5 years ago

    and then, all of a sudden, your controller will be 100% useless!

    I'm probably missing the point here, but should the battery fail - cant you just plug in the lead and carry on playing like a wired controller? - that's hardly useless is it?

  • MilkYMoO #57 5 years ago

    Sony have truly lost the plot and gone insane.