Some of the biggest gaming companies have joined forces to make it easier for players to find games with accessibility features. This new system aims to help more people enjoy gaming by clearly showing which games offer features for different needs.
Nintendo of America, Microsoft, EA, Google, and Ubisoft have teamed up under the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) to launch the “Accessible Games Initiative.” They are introducing 24 tags to help players easily find games with specific accessibility features on digital stores and product pages.
What These Accessibility Tags Include
The initiative covers a wide range of needs through four main categories:
Auditory features include chat speech-to-text & text-to-speech options, mono sound capability, volume controls, narrated menus, and various sound output options.
Gameplay features focus on difficulty level options and the ability to save anytime during gameplay.
Input features include options to remap controls, so players can use buttons, a keyboard, a mouse, or touch controls. There are also settings to help those who have difficulty holding buttons or pressing them quickly.
Visual features include camera comfort settings, text clarity options, color alternatives for colorblind players, large subtitle options, and text size adjustments.
Implementation Plans
Each company will add these tags at its own pace. ESA’s senior VP, Aubrey Quinn, said that while it’s optional, all participating companies are working to make them available.
This initiative was created by the five founding companies with input from Sony Interactive Entertainment, though Sony isn’t officially listed as a founder. Other companies like Amazon Games, Riot Games, Square Enix, and Warner Bros. Games have also joined the effort.
When asked about when the tags will be available, companies had different responses. Google didn’t comment, while Riot Games said they helped create the tags and are working on a plan to add them. Ubisoft shared that they are actively preparing to include the tags on their product pages and will share more details soon.
Microsoft’s Anna Waismeyer said that Xbox is adding both the Accessible Games Initiative tags and its own Game Accessibility Feature Tags to various Xbox games and experiences.
This initiative is a big step toward making gaming more accessible for everyone. By using the same accessibility tags across different platforms and game publishers, players with disabilities can easily see which games have the features they need. This will help more people enjoy gaming without guesswork or frustration.
