The Wii U gamepad battery does not last long. In the middle of a fight with a Lagiacrus in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate or in the middle of a level in Super Mario 3D World, the battery can suddenly die. To resolve the short battery life, NeoGAF users noticed that Nintendo began selling High-Capacity Gamepad batteries through the Nintendo of America online store.
The battery doesn't extend the current battery charge, but replaces it. Using a screwdriver, Wii U owners can easily replace the current battery to increase the charge from the original three to five hour range for a charge that lasts up to eight hours.
Back in May, Nintendo Japan announced a Wii U battery replacement with the same eight hour battery charge. The announcement only applied to Japanese markets and not Western or European players.
Players can purchase the battery replacement from the Nintendo of America online store for $32.00.