Microsoft's investments make Xbox a leader in gaming accessibility, and others should follow

Xbox Adaptive Controller Source: Windows Cardinal

Video games allow people of all kinds to experience incredible creations, connect with people all over the world, and be a part of countless stories in a way yous can't with other mediums. However, something that has always been an obstruction for a significant portion of the gaming community is accessibility. While accessibility in gaming is condign increasingly important, many developers and teams struggle to make their inclusivity ambitions a reality.

How can these developers ensure their games are attainable to as many players as possible without detracting from the experiences they've built? Microsoft has invested heavily in answering this question. Microsoft's efforts in this infinite take fabricated Xbox the leader in gaming accessibility, and Microsoft wants everyone to follow in its footsteps.

I got an opportunity to speak with Senior Gaming Accessibility Programme Manager at Microsoft Brannon Zahand to learn more nigh what Xbox has achieved with accessibility in gaming, how developers tin larn from Microsoft, and how members of the gaming and disability community can participate in making gaming more inclusive for everyone.

Giving everyone a chance to play

Custom Adaptive Controller Source: Windows Central The solutions being pushed by Microsoft allow users greater control in creating solutions that work for them.

Creating an accessible video game ways designing it to be inclusive of everyone and the way they play. Accessibility settings in games should cater to temporary and permanent disabilities, whether physical or mental.

Making games more accessible has been a large focus in recent years, and this move continues to grow. Microsoft, particularly, has been a powerful voice pushing accessibility further and has gone above and across ensuring Xbox Game Studios titles include a plethora of accessibility settings, like with Gears Tactics' menu narrator or the arachnophobia accessibility setting in Grounded.

In 2022, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox Adaptive Controller (XAC), a unique controller that allows players to customize their setups with standardized accessories, a massive community of support and solutions, and countless other options. While other adaptive controllers like this exist, the XAC is widely available and is backed by a meaning visitor, its resource, and a dedicated customs. The XAC is a fantastic controller and one of the best controllers for Xbox Serial X|Southward for anyone who can benefit from information technology.

Microsoft has been a powerful phonation pushing accessibility in gaming further than e'er

When our own Jez Corden wanted to learn more about the XAC, he teamed up with his friend Oliver Koerber, a Gaming & Disability Customs member, to review the Xbox Adaptive Controller. After setting upwards the XAC and using information technology to play games previously unavailable to him, Oliver said, "I've never had a controller that worked for me. I can look forward to more types of games now and can dive more into the console globe... It'due south a really great matter."

Unfortunately, accessibility doesn't e'er sit in the foreground for game companies. Sony, Nintendo, and other game companies can certainly make concessions in their games in the name of inclusivity (The Last of Usa Part II from Sony and Naughty Dog, for example, includes a wonderful number of in-depth accessibility settings). Even so, these efforts aren't always obvious or consistent. Simultaneously, these companies don't have the same dedication to making accessibility improve that Microsoft has shown.

A expert example of this is how Microsoft is one of the few companies to provide closed captioning for presentations, like at GDC. Airtight captioning is i of the smaller details that large companies can often overlook but is hugely appreciated by all manner of viewers.

Making games accessible on a per-game footing is yet great to see, and things accept been steadily improving over the last few years from many game companies. Microsoft, though, has several tools that showtime with the developers to begin fostering an accessibility-first mindset in game evolution. This movement wants to make accessibility, well, accessible for developers that might not know where to begin.

It starts with the developers

Xbox Accessibility Guidelines Hero Source: Xbox

While developing and supporting solutions to enable players to experience games that may not take been built with them in listen is terrific, it doesn't resolve the deeper obstacle that prevents all video games from being every bit accessible as possible. The Xbox Adaptive Controller is a valuable tool for disabled gamers to employ, but taking accessibility in gaming to the next level means starting with developers and how they build their games. Microsoft knows this, and in early on 2022 released the Xbox Accessibility Guidelines (XAGs).

This is a series of guidances and advice for developers to follow to ensure their games can accomplish every bit many people as possible without affecting the game at its core. While this initial system was a dandy first stride, Microsoft hasn't stopped there.

Taking feedback from developers and the Gaming & Disability Community, Microsoft massively updated the Xbox Accessibility Guidelines with implementation examples, boosted information, clearer language, scoping questions, and additional links to resources, non-profit organizations, and industry experts.

Even then, Microsoft wasn't going to stop innovating and announced a brand-new service for developers alongside these guideline updates. "We realized that we could do more than," Zahand said. "For a while now, developers and publishers had expressed involvement in our Gaming Accessibility Team reviewing their products to provide feedback on their accessibility. So, it made sense to create a program that would provide a uncomplicated and straightforward style for the states to do just that, using the data we've learned on our own game accessibility journey."

Devs can have their games tested past Microsoft and members of the Gaming & Disability Community

Non only can developers use Microsoft'south educational guidelines when creating their games, but at present developers can take advantage of Microsoft'due south in-business firm Gaming Accessibility Team to test their projects against the XAGs. All developers have to do is submit their builds, and Xbox will upshot a report.

The new Game Accessibility Testing Service is a fantastic resource for developers to utilize, but Microsoft knows it lonely doesn't possess enough knowledge and insight to do it all finer. That's why the newly-created plan includes members of the Gaming & Disability Customs. These valuable participants test games against the XAGs and provide their insightful feedback on areas of improvement for developers.

"The fact that we have gamers with disabilities... is something we know is incredibly valuable, particularly for smaller developers," Zahand said almost the Game Accessibility Testing Service. "Nosotros've been told by some developers that they just aren't sure how to include the customs as part of their development process. Not only does this service provide that opportunity, simply we also provide information with every report that includes resources with tips on how to attain out to the Gaming & Inability Customs."

Xbox Adaptive Controller Use Source: Microsoft

"If you lot are taking an inclusive approach to design... accessibility will exist a natural byproduct"

On developing with accessibility in mind, Zahand said, "If you are taking an inclusive approach to design from 24-hour interval ane of evolution, accessibility will be a natural byproduct, not to mention an overall better experience for all of your customers. You won't be spending time and resource scrambling towards the end of evolution trying to slap on accessibility features."

"That's why the Gaming Accessibility Team and Xbox are focusing so much on developer education," he continued. "The sooner teams brainstorm developing inclusively, the easier and cheaper it volition exist."

Of course, Microsoft is also encouraging Xbox Game Studios to take advantage of the XAGs and Game Accessibility Testing Service. Xbox Game Studios accept been an integral role of bringing these projects and ambitions to life by providing first-hand experience and feedback to Microsoft.

All of this shows accessibility and inclusivity are core pillars of gaming at Microsoft. Meaningful investments in developer educational activity and end-user tools are good for everyone in gaming, whether y'all consider yourself a fellow member of the inability community or not. Every gaming company and developer should strive to improve their ain efforts continually. Gaming is always better when we can all play together.

Getting the community involved

It's clear that accessibility in gaming is a priority for Microsoft, and every company involved in gaming should expect to the Xbox Accessibility Guidelines and Game Accessibility Testing Service for inspiration and guidance on pushing accessibility in gaming further. Microsoft knows they can't accomplish this alone, though, and strives to involve the Gaming & Inability Community every step of the manner.

If you believe you can contribute to Microsoft'southward efforts in game accessibility, at that place are ways you tin can reach out. Feedback can be sent to xaccess@microsoft.com. As well, individuals who reside in the greater Seattle surface area, are experienced using assistive technology in gaming, and are interested in being a part of the Microsoft Game Accessibility Testing Service can email gamea11ytesterinfo@microsoft.com for more information.

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.