Thursday 19 October 2006
PlayStation 3's wireless SixAxis pad will not come with a replaceable battery, Sony has confirmed.

This means that, unlike Xbox 360 controllers which feature removable battery packs, SixAxis pads that reach the end of their chargeable lifetime will become effectively useless as wireles꧑s controllers - although you should still be able to play with them by using the USB cable.

You can expect to pay at least as much for a PS3 pad as you do right now for a PS2 one and, although each wireless joypad will more than likely handle over a 1,000 charges - like most traditional rechargeable batteries - should your controller develop a charge problem then you'll be forced to shell out for a whole new one. Hopefully Sony will offer at least a year's warrantee o꧙n each pad, though.

Above: Sony says its SixAxis controller will manage 30 hours of life for each two-and-a-half-hour charge