Wii U GamePad battery life gets a boost from new Nyko accessories

Peripheral manufacturer Nyko is addressing one of the Wii U's main drawbacks — the battery life of the GamePad — with a wide variety of accessories designed to give players more power, the company announced today.

The $14.99 Power Stand, pictured above, is a simple charging dock for the GamePad; it uses Nintendo's charging cable, so it doesn't come with its own wires. More interesting is the $19.99 UBoost, which snaps onto the back of the GamePad with Nyko's own rechargeable battery — and a kickstand — to provide up to twice as much power as Nintendo's built-in battery. The GamePad alone offers three to five hours of battery life.

Also available is the Charge Base Pro, which can store and charge two Wii U Pro Controllers for $29.99. And the $14.99 Charge Link allows players to charge a GamePad by plugging it into a USB port on the Wii U; the GamePad can otherwise only be charged with an AC adaptor plugged into a wall outlet.

Nyko's full line of Wii U accessories will be out later this year, but the Charge Link cable is available now.