
Minor Microsoft SNAFU detected. Turns out it has been shipping Xbox controllers without batteries for months (via Neowin). Belatedly, Microsoft is now compensating customers by sending out a rechargeable battery kit, plus a USB Type-C cable for free.
Xbox controllers are actually a little old school in having a user-accessible compartment that takes plain old AA batteries. Normally, the controllers ship with a couple of Duracell batteries to ensure that customers can game right out of the box.