For the first time since the original release in 2013, I was able to play The Last of Us. How are studios implementing accessible options and designs? What settings are necessary for players with physical disabilities? A key aspect that is often overlooked in these conversations are talks about hardware. When discussing accessibility, we often ask questions pertaining to software.
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Not only was it the first in the series to become available to PC players, but it also featured extensive accessibility settings. On March 28, PlayStation released The Last of Us Part I on the PC. While we still don’t know how effective Blind Driving Assists will be for disabled players, Turn 10 Studios’ attempts to eliminate unintentional barriers is worthy of mention. Blind/low vision accessibility still seems like it’s in its infancy despite the continuous rise and acceptance of accessibility in this industry. I can usually purchase a new game and complete it without assistance. Despite my disability, I still have my preferred franchises. What makes Blind Driving Assists one of my favorite reveals of this year is that it opens a new genre to a group of disabled players. However, blind/low vision players still cannot fully enjoy most titles in this industry. Whether turning, driving on straightaways, or even when changing speeds, each action is conveyed through aural messages.įorza’s accessibility efforts are in line with the greater accessibility movement. Blind Driving Assists offer numerous audio cues and steering assists that seek to remove barriers for blind/low vision players when racing.
Xbox recently announced a new set of accessibility features for its flagship racing series. Horror, like all genres, can be accessible for those with varying mental health disabilities, and Dead Space demonstrates how horror can be both entertaining and accessible. What makes Dead Space stand out amongst incredibly accessible games is the fact that it chooses to incorporate and highlight mental health accessibility in a way that doesn’t diminish the fear that players feel. Yet, Isaac Clarke still must survive within the abandoned halls of the USG Ishimura. Traumatic images and themes can be censored, like suicide, or even specific phrases that deal with self-harm in text logs. But Dead Space seamlessly integrates mental health accessibility while still maintaining the core themes of isolation and fear. Content warnings in games aren’t new – Arachnophobia Modes in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Grounded, warnings of self-harm and suicide in Doki Doki Literature Club, and even Chicory: A Colorful Tale lets players skip scenes that deal with depression. Yet, the extensive content warnings and censors are why I’m choosing to highlight this game. Motive Studio’s remake of the original Dead Space includes common accessibility options like customizable controls, subtitles, and colorblind settings. While it’s still too early to know information like cost, and even button and stick sensitivity, its announcement is indicative of PlayStation’s continuous growth in accessibility. The Access Controller is what I’ve been wanting, and quite frankly needing from a studio that actively shut physically disabled players like me out for years. And several years after the release of the PS4, I lost the ability to hold standard controllers, meaning that I haven’t been able to experience PlayStation’s accessibility efforts, even in games like The Last of Us Part II.
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Despite the software accessibility that PlayStation studios like Naughty Dog, Sony Santa Monica, and Insomniac Games regularly incorporate into their titles, I’ve never been able to play a PS5 game. This is my most anticipated release, and arguably, my favorite announcement from this year. With approximately eight customizable buttons, a control stick with three different shapes and sizes, and even four 3.5mm AUX ports, PlayStation finally addressed its lack of accessible hardware. In January, during PlayStation’s CES conference, the studio revealed Project Leonardo, an adaptive controller designed for physically disabled individuals. To celebrate GAAD, let’s explore some of my favorite accessibility highlights from the past five months. But beyond adding features, many of 2023’s announcements and releases demonstrate the necessity to explore new types of accessibility and even open entire systems to a significant group of disabled players. It’s quickly becoming apparent that disabled players no longer need to hope for accessibility to be included in a game, but rather can comfortably join in the excitement of new titles. 2023 is already off to a strong start, with options and design practices pushing accessibility beyond some of last year’s biggest hits.
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