Xbox controller batteries keep dying? Microsoft is working on new system to stop that
The system is also intended for other devices, like laptops, headphones, etc.
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Key notes
- Microsoft is working a system that notifies users whenever their Xbox controller’s juice runs out.
- The recently-published patent application reveals that it’s also coming for other devices with batteries.
- It notifies you when you have to charge your device based on its capacity, your usage history & other things.
Have you ever played on your Xbox for so, so long that your Xbox controller batteries keep dying without you realizing? Well, Microsoft is apparently working on a system to prevent that.
The Redmond-based tech giant filed a patent for this system back in 2022, but the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has just recently made this publicly available on its website.
The premise of this idea sounds simple: it sends you a notification when you have to charge your device based on its capacity and your usage history. This “device” can actually be everything as long as it has batteries: an Xbox controller, a headphone, a laptop/PC, or even on your mobile.
Here’s how the notification workflow looks like:
But what makes it different than the notification system that we already have whenever the battery of a device gets too low?
Well, Microsoft says that the patented system looks at how people actually use their devices based on usage habits (such as, what day or hours they use it and how long a session lasts) and reminds them of the right times. Rather than using the rule of thumb of if a battery gets to a certain percentage, a notification will pop up, this method seems more effective.
When playing video games on Xbox, for example, the system also takes a look into what game is being played because some games do take up more energy due to their graphics. Then, you’ll either see LED lights on the controller, a pop-up notification on the console screen, or a notification on your Xbox mobile app.
As we previously mentioned, this new system isn’t exclusive to Xbox controllers. Microsoft also says in the application that it’s coming to devices with batteries, so laptops, headphones, or even consoles.
