The gaming industry has always been a big part of the entertainment world because it provides fun to many people globally. However, many potential gamers are persons with disabilities and have always been left out. This is because they require specific accommodations for support that are missing in various games.
But the good news is that gaming companies today are improving their titles to make them more accessible. They do it in various ways, such as designing games with customizable controls and audio and visual adjustments. This has increased the number of gamers with disabilities.
As a matter of fact, statistics show that people with disabilities make up over 20% of the total gaming population. Let us take you through the different measures undertaken by the industry to become more inclusive.
What is Gaming Accessibility?
Gaming accessibility is an effort to ensure that people with disabilities can access and use gaming hardware and platforms. Today, game development companies are challenged to create more accessible video games. This is because it gives disabled persons a sense of belonging in the gaming community and widens the player base.
Fortunately, various technological advancements today are making it easier for developers to make their games inclusive. Assistive technology is also enabling gaming platforms to become accessible.
For instance, some online casinos are using screen readers and voice recognition software. These ensure that people with auditory and visual disabilities have seamless gaming experiences.
Besides that, they also have many offers, like the casino cashback bonus, that don’t discriminate against any player. Every person, whether disabled or not, can claim them.
How Gaming Companies are Creating More Inclusive and Accessible Games
-
Audio and Visual Adjustments
Audio and visual adjustments are vital for players with vision and hearing impairments. With this in mind, several games are being developed with captions and subtitles to support hard-of-hearing and deaf gamers. Luckily, these accommodations are customizable, and the player can change their size, background opacity, and color to improve readability.
Additionally, visual cues, such as directional arrows or flashing icons, are being added to convey in-game information. They can indicate important events or enemy presence.
On the other hand, developers are also adding audio descriptions to some games for visually impaired players. They narrate the on-screen actions during gameplay. These audio cues ensure that users with visual impairment access critical game information without relying on visual inputs.
-
Gameplay Adjustments
Many games today can be adjusted to suit your skill level. Developers design them with customizable difficulty settings that enable you to modify the challenges. They have options to change the enemy strength or adjust puzzle complexity. For example, Sony designed a customizable accessibility controller for the PlayStation 5.
The controller is highly adaptable, and you can modify it according to your specific needs. Also, some titles have different gameplay modes, including Expert, Hard, Normal, and Easy. These adjustments enable people with disabilities to play video games in easier gameplay modes using their abilities.
-
Developing and Integrating Assistive Gaming Hardware
Several companies are developing assistive hardware tools that accommodate people with various disabilities. The best example is Microsoft’s Adoptive Controller for Xbox, designed for players or gamers with limited mobility. It features joysticks and custom buttons that give the player precise control.
Another great assistive gaming hardware is a one-handed controller. It is designed for gamers with one functional hand. The device gives the gamer the ability to control all inputs for both the functional and nonfunctional or missing hand. It makes them reachable, and they include the thumbstick, bumper, and trigger. Also, it allows you to position the thumbstick anywhere you can access it easily.
-
Creating and Financing Organizations that Advocate Inclusivity
Various organizations have been established to advocate for inclusivity in the gaming industry. They are at the forefront of combating social isolation and fostering inclusive gaming communities for people with disabilities.
One of the most popular is AbleGamers, which partners with companies like Dell Technologies, Logitech, UBISOFT, and Microsoft. The organization developed Accessible Player Experiences design patterns that can improve gameplay for disabled gamers. It uses them to instruct or guide developers on how to create accessible game designs.
Gaming is More Accessible Today
Despite a few challenges still being worked on, gaming is more accessible to people with disabilities today than before. The development of assistive gaming hardware, like adaptive and one-handed controllers, has attracted gamers with limited mobility and one functional hand. Also, adding captions and subtitles in games has made gaming accessible to the deaf.