Accessibility News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

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Game development is, in some ways, more accessible than ever. Between the ease-of-use of engines like RPG Maker to the release of titles like Game Builder Garage that gamify the act of development itself, there are countless ways into game development that do not require previous experience of coding or design.

One of the best things about owning an Android phone is the vast customization tools to help you personalize your experience. However, for some people, especially senior citizens, having these many options is a burden. We've compiled a list of tips to make your Android device more accessible.

The behemoth that is the games industry has profound responsibilities towards its players, and these are ever-evolving. Unfortunately, right now, actions towards accessibility – making games suitable for their disabled audiences – fall short of where they should be. Thankfully, accessibility is gaining more attention and traction across the industry though.

Tekken 8 has received an update that changes an accessibility mode flagged as potentially harmful.

Fans and accessibility advocates alike have reached out to Tekken 8 director Katsuhiro Harada in a bid to have its colourblind options revised ahead of the game's release next month.

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Jusant is a unique game that puts you at ease as you scale a mysterious tower. It recently received a massive accessibility update that’ll ensure more players than ever get to explore one of 2023’s most interesting indies.

Don’t Nod’s meditative climbing game Jusant launched last month amidst a sea of major releases, and was met with widespread praise from critics and audiences upon its release. In the wake of its launch, the developer has now released a new update for the title that adds several significant accessibility options.

The launch of the Access controller for PS5 is around the corner on December 6. Today, we’re excited to go behind the scenes with some accessibility experts who consulted on this project, as well as share new resources for players with disabilities to learn more about how this highly customizable controller kit can help them play more comfortably and for longer periods.

A common refrain from accessibility advocates in game development is that the best way to support players with disabilities is to start designing features around their needs from day one. Settings for color-blind players, text-to-audio descriptions, and other tools are easier to implement if they're accounted for early rather than shoved in at the end of production.

Larian Studios has pushed through a massive Patch 4 to Baldur’s Gate 3, applying over 1000 fixes, tweaks and changes. Accessibility is a major focus of this patch, in addition to other fixes applied to the hirelings system, combat, and UI.

The latest major patch for Baldur's Gate 3 is massive, introducing over 1000 fixes, tweaks, and changes, as well as new accessibility options for color-blind players.

Microsoft plans to block Xbox players from using unauthorized third-party controllers and accessories.

Insomniac Games’ Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is available worldwide, and while perfectly playable for those physical edition owners, it’s recommended to download the day one update. Patch notes are now available, revealing additional accessibility features and improvements.

Many of you today will be playing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and we don’t blame you one bit. The title from Insomniac Games seems to be everything that fans could want and more, and they worked hard to deliver a truly robust experience while tailoring it to feature representation across the board and giving options to those with special needs. In a special interview with the PlayStation Blog, Bryan Intihar talked about the early sections of the game and certain other elements. We won’t spoil anything, but one thing he did really appreciate in one particular mission is the inclusion of Hailey.

It’s time to Web-Swing. With Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 out now worldwide, you may already have taken your first tour of Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens by web or Web Wings. Put Peter and Miles’s masked aerobatics to good use to quell crime and tackle new emerging threats, browsed the new suits and styles with relish, tinkered with a range of accessibility options. 

Microsoft has outlined some of the new Xbox accessibility features due in the coming months, including the ability to remap keyboard keys to the Xbox Adaptive Controller and Elite Series 2.

Microsoft is always moving forward in the field of accessibility, especially in gaming, where its Xbox Adaptive Controller and other features help gamers with disabilities play however is comfortable for them. A couple new updates and a touching short video on how games fit into the rehabilitation process mark the company’s accessibility highlight month.

Microsoft has revealed a plethora of new accessibility updates designed to make gaming more inclusive for disabled players as part of its October celebration of the disabled gaming community. Sony has been following Microsoft's lead, announcing more options for disabled gamers in the form of new, accessibility focussed controllers, but now we're seeing more of this inclusivity being brought into Windows and PC gaming specifically. 

In the ever-evolving world of World of Warcraft (WoW), the gaming community is no stranger to updates and patches that aim to improve the player experience. Patch 10.2 is no exception, as it introduces a feature that has been highly anticipated by a specific group of players – new quest background color accessibility options. In this article, we’ll delve into this exciting development and the impact it’s having on the WoW community, with a special mention of some enthusiastic Redditors who shared their thoughts on the matter.

Sony’s Access controller for PS5 is launching on Dec. 6 for $89.99. The company recently opened pre-orders for the device at its Direct store, coinciding with a blog post detailing the numerous ways the Access can be customized to meet the needs of gamers with disabilities.

Among several class tuning and design changes, this week's Dragonflight Patch 10.2 PTR update introduces new user interface and accessibility improvements, including the ability to choose different background colors for quest text!

Months after the game's shaky launch, Redfall's second update has arrived, bringing new content, bug fixes, and quality-of-life improvements to the game.

The task management tool called Microsoft Lists, will now be made available to users across all devices on iOS, Android, and Web. The app was launched back in 2020 for businesses and enterprise users so they can track information and organize tasks effectively. Users with Microsoft accounts can now access the app and utilize its benefits. Know more about the Microsoft Lists here.

The developer of a popular Star Fox-style roguelike has said "sorry not sorry" after a player changed their positive review to a negative one following the game's accessibility update.

As we've come to expect from PlayStation Studios games, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will ship with a whole bunch of accessibility options, ensuring that the action title can be fully customised to suit whoever's playing. Developer Insomniac Games is no stranger to this stuff thanks to its stellar work on the first Marvel's Spider-Man and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, but the studio says the Spidey sequel will take things even further.

Insomniac Games has expanded on its accessibility features for Marvel's Spider-Man 2 by adding PlayStation Access controller support.

Insomniac Games has announced several new accessibility options for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Most of the support expands on systems found in previous Spider-Man games and other Insomniac titles like Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart.

Hey, everyone! I’m Michele Zorrilla, the Advanced Senior UX Researcher at Insomniac Games. With the launch of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 just around the corner, our team at Insomniac is excited to share one of the ways we can all #BeGreaterTogether – through accessibility! So today, I’d like to highlight some of the notable accessibility features swinging into the game at launch on October 20, then I’ll pass it over to Sam Schaffel, Insomniac Games’s Accessibility Design Researcher, who will provide an update on more features arriving in a post-launch update.

When it comes to modern video games, a trend that many people have appreciated is the building up of accessibility features that will ensure that everyone can play the game, no matter their skill level or potential handicap. It’s important to remember that everyone has the same eyes, ears, and hands, and thus, it can be hard for them to play video games that they really want if there aren’t accessibility options to help tailor the experience. Thankfully, the upcoming Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is yet another AAA title that features plenty of accessibility features for gamers to tinker around with so they can make their optimal experience.

After revealing a partial Trophy list for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Insomniac Games has fully detailed the superhero title’s accessibility options in a new PlayStation Blog post. It carries features from previous titles and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart while introducing new features like Challenge Level Modifiers.

Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Insomniac Games have detailed the accessibility features included in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, including additional accessibility features coming in a December update and how the game works with the upcoming Access controller.

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Forza is one of several major franchises that have put an increasing amount of emphasis on accessibility options, and it looks like the upcoming instalment in the racing sim series won’t be bucking that trend. Developer Turn 10 Studios has revealed the full list of accessibility features that will be available in Forza Motorsport at launch, and it’s quite a comprehensive one.

Super Mario RPG will let players switch between the new and original versions of its soundtrack, which can also work as an excellent accessibility option. 

Video gaming has transitioned through multiple iterations and mediums throughout the years. Whether we’re talking about arcade cabinets, VR headsets or mobile gaming, it’s always kind of a crapshoot to predict where exactly the gaming market will flock to next. One thing is certain, success relies on more than just a fresh idea, but also on opportunity, capability, and execution. Samsung has found its opportunity with their Gaming Hub, and the South Korean technology powerhouse has proven it is more than capable. Now, as the Gaming Hub rolls out across some older Samsung TV models, and will come standard on many future monitors and TVs, it’s time to see if Samsung has nailed their execution.

With Mortal Kombat 1 almost upon us — it arrives next Thursday, 19th September, or today if you've pre-ordered the Premium Edition — developer NetherRealms has shared details of the various accessibility features it's including at launch.

We're thrilled to announce the return of GamesBeat Next, hosted in San Francisco this October, where we will explore the theme of «Playing the Edge.» Apply to speak here and learn more about sponsorship opportunities here. At the event, we will also announce 25 top game startups as the 2024 Game Changers. Apply or nominate today!

Sony Interactive Entertainment has released the latest software update for PlayStation 5, which adds new accessibility features, new audio options, new ways to connect with other players, support for larger-capacity M.2 SSDs, and more.

With the holiday season and a new wave of exciting game releases approaching, today we’re pleased to roll out an all-new PS5 system software update globally. Thanks to support from our beta participants, this update includes a number of features from the latest PS5 beta, including:

Mortal Kombat 1 is just days away from launch now, with its early access release even closer, and new details on the fighter are continuing to be revealed at a steady clip. In addition to having released a launch trailer for the upcoming reboot – which confirmed Reiko for its roster of main fighters – NetherRealm Studios and WB Games have also revealed the full list of accessibility options that will be available in the game at launch.

Publisher Warner Bros. Games and developer NetherRealm Studios have released the launch trailer for Mortal Kombat 1, which provides a first look at Shang Tsung and Reiko gameplay. The companies also announced that the game will feature an extensive set of accessibility options, such as descriptive audio of on-screen action.

Unfortunately, there's not a lot to pick from right now.

While many gamers have never had the need to review an Accessibility menu, for those that do, these features are absolutely crucial — between TTS/screen readers, colorblind adjustments, and sound cues to assist players, gaming has never been more accessible to all. After all, we all want to defeat epic bosses and find amazing loot, and everyone's journey is different — which is why Play Your Way has become a staple of Diablo 4. A prime example of the lengths Blizzard went to in creating their accessibility features comes from Ross Minor — a gamer, content creator, and blind accessibility professional, who was able to defeat Lilith during Diablo 4's campaign while utilizing the features Blizzard provided! Ross Minor on YouTube Ross Minor Defeats Lilith Ross Minor's Reddit Thread Ross Minor on Twitch Minor had previously reviewed Blizzard's accesibility features for Diablo 4, and had many good things to say, as well as offering some improvements that could be made.

NetherRealm's upcoming fighting game Mortal Kombat 1 will feature audio narration for in-game Fatalities. 

Mortal Kombat 1 includes audio descriptive fatalities.

Blind players can now have Fatalities narrated to them in Mortal Kombat 1. The new descriptive audio option adds humor to the otherwise gory beatdowns.

Dave The Diver has received a huge update, including new accessibility options and quality of life improvements.

Sony is taking accessibility seriously with the launch of its PS5 Access Controller later this year, but great work continues to be invested on the software side as well. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is the next tentpole title from PlayStation Studios, and unsurprisingly Insomniac Games has committed to continuing to advance the suite of comfort features included in the release.

It’s August and the only game I’ve consistently played is Baldur’s Gate 3. I can’t stop thinking about progressing in my multiple campaigns, unraveling new secrets and areas, and even determining which character best suits a specific conversation. And as someone who’s unsuccessfully tried numerous times to play tabletop D&D because of a lack of interest, I was initially apprehensive about playing the video game version. Thankfully I’ve never been more wrong.

Marvel’s Spider-Man was incredibly popular, and it even sparked a spin-off installment with Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Insomniac Games is looking to keep this success trend with its next major release. We know Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is coming, and that has quite a few fans eager to jump into this next action-packed chapter featuring Peter Parker and Miles Morales. However, we’re also learning that this game will have several accessibility features to ensure that more players are able to enjoy this game with ease.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will let players slow down combat for better control over fights.

Time is on your side.

The PlayStation Store listing for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Insomniac’s sequel to the successful superhero open-world title, has recently been updated. It outlines some of the accessibility features that players can expect. Screen reader support for reading on-screen menus and captions and audio descriptions for the cinematics are included.

By all accounts, Street Fighter 6 is a hit fighting game that's received overwhelming praise from critics and players alike, selling more than two million copies since June 2, 2023. It headlined the Evolution Championship Series. It's a staple on Twitch and other streaming platforms. So, when I had the chance to chat with members of the game's development team at Evo 2023 during Sunday Finals, I leaped at the opportunity.

The Crew Motorfest, Ivory Tower’s open-world racing sequel to The Crew 2, will feature over 600 vehicles for players to control. Over 80 are brand new, as revealed in the recent developer diary. As the team focuses more on pushing the “boundaries of driving sensations,” it’s also implementing some accessibility options.

It’s been a hot minute since the last PlayStation 5 update, but Sony has been quietly cooking up their next system firmware, today announcing the release of a PS5 beta update with a whole host of features.

Beginning today, Sony is rolling out its latest PlayStation 5 system software beta. It introduces a host of new features that enhance the console’s accessibility and audio options, in addition to a few other tweaks. For now, beta access is limited to invited players in select countries, though Sony plans to release the update globally this year.

To beep or not to beep, that is the question.

Alongside the release of a new accessibility controller, PlayStation 5 is getting a major accessibility feature this year: the ability to use a second controller as an assist controller, similar to Xbox’s Copilot mode.

It’s been a hot minute since the last PlayStation 5 update, but Sony has been quietly cooking up their next system firmware, today announcing the release of a PS5 beta update with a whole host of features.

Sony has announced a new PlayStation 5 system software beta which adds several new options, including accessibility features, quality of life updates, and support for expanded storage.

Sony is rolling out a beta firmware update for the PS5 which includes new accessibility and audio options, among other new features.

With each PlayStation 5 system software release, we’ve introduced new features designed to enhance the many ways you can access your favorite content, navigate your console, or create new gaming memories with friends. Today, we’re thrilled to roll out a new PS5 system software beta that introduces new accessibility features as well as audio options that allow 3D Audio powered by Tempest 3D AudioTech to be enjoyed on compatible Dolby Atmos-enabled HDMI devices such as sound bars, TVs, or home theater systems. The beta also includes more options to quickly find games and console tips, new ways to connect with other players and customize your multiplayer sessions, and support for larger-capacity M.2 SSDs (up to 8TB).

PlayStation has led the industry when it comes to accessibility, with first-party studios like Naughty Dog, Santa Monica Studio, and others all innovating to ensure its PS5 and PS4 titles can be enjoyed by more people. This has led to the Japanese giant winning a number of awards for its efforts, and later this year it’ll release the PS5 Access Controller, a new peripheral designed in collaboration with various charities in order to ensure everyone can play.