Accessory Details

• Accessory: Xbox 360 Play and Charge Kit
• Category: Controller Accessory
• Released: 02/12/2005
• Current Price (UK): £14.99
• Contents: Xbox 360 Controller Battery Pack, Charging Cable (2.5m long, USB connection)

Background

While I personally find the Xbox 360 controller to be the best designed and easiest to handle in the current generation of consoles, if there is a problem with it, it is that the wireless controller does not have an in built rechargeable battery. This means that if you play a lot of games you will go through many batteries. The play and charge kit rectifies this problem by providing a rechargeable battery and also providing a long enough charging cable to enable you to continue playing as it occurs. There are also now a range of colours available to match those of the new controllers.

Main Reasons to Buy

Quite simply because you will get your money back through the money you are not spending on batteries relatively quickly, assuming you use your Xbox 360 regularly.

Main Reasons to Avoid

You may be able to buy a generic version of the play and charge kit for less, or you don’t have a wireless controller.

My Recommendation

BUY – 9/10

A play and charge kit is one accessory that I recommend all Xbox 360 owners get, with the only exception being people who use wired controllers. It would rank 10/10 except that Microsoft should have incorporated the kit into the controller to begin with so I knocked a mark off.