Xbox celebrates accessibility in gaming with new adaptive joystick and continued support for Special Olympics

At Xbox, we believe gaming is for everyone. Our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility drives us to create experiences that resonate with all gamers, including those in the gaming & disability community. This month we are proud to recognize the over 425 million players who make up this vibrant community. By fostering inclusive communities, enabling accessible design, and continually investing in accessibility, we aim to break down barriers and ensure everyone can enjoy the magic of gaming.

We are pleased to announce our continued partnership with the Special Olympics to advance inclusion in gaming. Since 2014, Microsoft and Special Olympics have worked together to empower athletes through technology, resulting in the annual Gaming for Inclusion event. This year, Xbox was proud to welcome select Special Olympics athletes to Redmond for an incredible event, including a Build Challenge with Minecraft Education and a Gaming for Inclusion tournament.

Our goal is to give everyone the opportunity to play the games they want, with the people they want, anywhere they want, in a way that works for them. We’re always looking for ways to offer even more choices that allow gamers with disabilities to customize their gaming setups. This year, Xbox is proud to unveil new products designed in collaboration with the Gaming & Disability community and nonprofit organizations, including the Adaptive Xbox joystick

Join us in celebrating the voices and perspectives that make our community stronger and more connected.

Xbox partners with Special Olympics

Since 2014, Microsoft and Special Olympics have worked together to empower athletes through technology. This includes Special Olympics and Xbox’s annual “Gaming for Inclusion” event.

In September, Xbox and Mojang hosted three Special Olympics athletes in Redmond for a Mojang Build Challenge Minecraft Education Edition Developer. The athletes also toured Xbox headquarters and met Xbox executives, including Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Special Olympics also hosted the Gaming for Inclusion tournament, where Special Olympics athletes and their Rocket League Unified partners competed for the chance to compete in the upcoming Gaming for Inclusion Showcase.

This Saturday is the official Xbox And Special Olympic Games YouTube channels and the Official Xbox Twitch Channel will broadcast the Gaming for Inclusion Showcase, where the winners of the qualifying tournament will demonstrate their competitive skills Forza Motorsport. GFI highlights are also presented in the showcase Rocket League Qualifying tournament and a summary of the Mojang Build Challenge.

Turn on the official Xbox Youtube or Twitch channel on October 5 at 10 a.m. PT to cheer on the athletes and learn more about Xbox’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Visit Special Olympic Games to learn more about their programs and find ways to support their work. In some markets, Microsoft Rewards members can also earn points and donate them to Special Olympics to support this initiative.

Gaming and impact with rewards

Rewards members in select countries can use Xbox to earn points and donate to organizations that support people in the gaming and disability communities. The following organizations will be appearing on consoles throughout October in the US and UK:

• Special effect – SpecialEffect is changing the lives of physically disabled people around the world through the innovative use of technology. At the core of their work is the mission to maximize fun and quality of life by helping people control video games as best as possible

• Warfighter engaged – Warfighter Engaged’s mission is to improve the lives of severely wounded and disabled warfighters through customized devices. They modify video game controllers, make prosthetic enhancements, recreational devices and other novel devices for greater independence. All customized items are provided free of charge to the warfighter.

• AbleGamers – AbleGamers creates opportunities that enable gaming to combat social isolation, promote inclusive communities, and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.

Xbox allows players to earn reward points in a variety of ways, such as: B. by playing games, completing Game Pass quests, and purchasing games or other eligible items from the Microsoft Store (exceptions apply). Start earning today and redeem your points for real rewards. Come to us today and Donate via Xbox.

Discover games curated by the gaming and disability communities at Microsoft

Celebrate the gaming and disability community through the power of gaming! Connect and play games that allow you to immerse yourself in a variety of perspectives and experiences. In October and beyond, check out games created by neurodiverse and disabled people that reflect their experiences.

Available in the Microsoft Stores for Xbox and Windows. Browse the Stores collection throughout the year as part of our ongoing work to create more inclusive gaming ecosystems and improve content that resonates with communities. There is more information for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members the Xbox Game Pass Gaming & Disability Community Collection And the PC Game Pass Gaming & Disability Community Collection.

Featured titles in the collections include:

• Gris (Available with Xbox Game Pass on console, PC and cloud) – Journey through the five stages of grief as a girl trying to find her voice. Explore an intricate world brought to life with delicate art, haunting music, light puzzles, and challenges depicting overcoming trauma and depression. As the story progresses, more of the world of the title character Gris becomes accessible, and you will see her world in a different way, revealing new paths and abilities. The game can be played by anyone, regardless of the language spoken.

• Sun ash (Available with Xbox Game Pass on console, PC and cloud) – Desperate to save your home by venturing into a black hole as Rei, an agile and talented void runner. Created during the pandemic by Alx Preston, whose life with congenital heart disease has inspired much of his work, Sun ash takes place in the same colorful metaverse as the action RPG Hyper Light drifter. Sun ash presents a different view of the same world with a unique 3D environment and innovative motion-based gameplay. Experience a story full of abstract themes such as fear and sadness, which are obscured throughout the game by the sense and need for urgency, control and perfection. Choose your own difficulty level, a feature added to be accessible to more players.

• The Sims 4 (Free on Xbox console and PC) – Constantly evolving, The Sims 4 has made many updates to become a more comprehensive game with the aim of authentically representing more players. In today’s game you can create characters with wearable medical devices such as hearing aids and glucose monitors. Character customization also includes vitiligo depiction, surgical scars, gender confirmation binders, community-influenced skin tones and hairstyles, and customizable pronouns.

Coming in 2025: Xbox Adaptive Joystick

Gamers with disabilities have expressed their desire for an affordable joystick option that can be used with the Xbox Adaptive Controller and other Xbox controllers. We listened. We created this in collaboration with the Gaming & Disability community Adaptive Xbox joystick. Through years of research, testing and collaboration with gamers with disabilities and accessibility experts, we designed the joystick to be versatile enough to meet the diverse needs of gamers with disabilities. The joystick can be controlled with one hand, mounted over table tops, or used with non-hand body parts, allowing gamers to seamlessly integrate it into their existing gaming setups. Each button is customizable and the joystick can be further modified with the free accessories 3D printable files to 3D print adaptive thumbstick toppers Xbox Design Lab.

The Xbox Adaptive Joystick will be available in select Xbox markets worldwide in early 2025 for $29.99 ERP. To learn more about the Xbox Adaptive Joystick and other new accessibility offerings from and for Xbox, read our post on Xbox Wire.

Wallpapers and dynamic backgrounds

The Gaming & Disability Community Xbox theme is now available as an Xbox wallpaper. Get your wallpaper here. Content is subject to availability in each country.