On this Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Microsoft is unveiling its new accessibility efforts. This includes updating the help pages and new partnerships.
In recent years, manufacturers have strived to improve the accessibility of video games. Microsoft in particular is a pioneer in this area with its specially designed accessories and controllers. For its part, Sony spares no effort. The Japanese publisher offers a wealth of dedicated options in its exclusive titles and is also developing an adaptive controller. On the occasion of World Accessibility Awareness Day, Microsoft reveals what the next step will be.
What’s new in Xbox Accessibility?
« Xbox knows only too well how important it is to make games accessible and fun for everyone “, explains the manufacturer in the preamble of his press release. Today, 66% of gamers say they encounter an obstacle while playing. Microsoft continues its effort to open gaming to even more worlds and introduces this latest work in accessibility. Starting with new, expanded accessibility help pages. They will also allow players to discover more 150 accessibility features, settings, and commands Available on Xbox consoles and PC in over 17 languages.
Let’s say you’re looking for an action-adventure game with adjustable difficulty and spatial audio support. Thanks to these new pages, you can find it in no time by applying a few filters. Microsoft also uses this symbolic tag to share its progress on existing accessibility offerings. We learn that new tips have been added to Microsoft’s Game Accessibility Testing service to help developers improve the accessibility of their games.
As a reminder, the MGATS initiative, launched in 2021, aims to help industry players assess the accessibility of their games and receive feedback directly from gamers with disabilities. “VSPlayers have completed over 13,000 hours of testing as part of the MGATS program, all with the goal of making games more fun and accessible to everyone. “Explains Microsoft in its press release.
Microsoft is also announcing several global partnerships in its quest to make video games even more accessible. For example, Xbox Netherlands will be working with disabled gamer Paul Van Der Made and the HiPerks Foundation to release a new series of videos that continue to showcase the positive impact the Xbox Adaptive Controller has on gamers with disabilities. Xbox and Special Olympics will also collaborate on the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023. The green brand will provide Xbox gaming stations in the Athletes’ Lounge in Berlin. Finally, Star Wars Jedi Survivor will take the spotlight in a live stream highlighting its accessibility features.
