Every December, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities encourages us to reflect on the importance of inclusivity, awareness, and equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities. At Xbox, we recognize that play is an integral part of modern culture and should be accessible to everyone. Our aim is to craft inclusive gaming experiences that allow players to connect with games and communities in their own unique ways.
Today and every day, we celebrate the invaluable contributions from the Gaming and Disability community, who have partnered with us to enhance the accessibility of our projects. Among them is Stan Adermann, a Principal Firmware Engineer at Team Xbox. His personal experience with disability inspired him to innovate new controller remapping features.
Stan shares, "I have a mild Essential Tremor and experience hand pain from years of software development. Certain PC games were exacerbating this pain, so I explored how we might make controllers more user-friendly for individuals facing similar challenges. The initial steps included remapping mouse movements to controllers and toggle holds. Mapping joystick movements to buttons or keyboard keys was also crucial."
From the launch of the new Xbox Adaptive Joystick and customizable thumbstick toppers available via Xbox Design Lab, to further updates we’ll detail shortly, we’re grateful for the input and guidance from individuals with disabilities. They’ve been pivotal to crafting gaming experiences that embrace everyone.
Remapping Options for Xbox Adaptive Controller and Elite Series 2
One of the key aspects of accessibility in gaming is remapping, which allows players to configure keys or buttons according to their preferences and needs.
To enhance remapping options, we’ve expanded the Xbox Accessories App for the Elite Series 2 Controller and the Xbox Adaptive Controller:
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Toggle Holds: Designed for players struggling with extended button presses, this feature keeps any labeled button or port on the Xbox Adaptive Controller, Joystick, or Elite Series 2 Controller ‘pressed’ until toggled off, similar to sticky keys on a PC.
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Map Stick Movement to Button Presses: Players now have the option to map thumbstick directions (up, down, left, right) to specific button or keyboard inputs. For instance, moving a stick upwards can be programmed to mimic pressing the “B” button.
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Map Mouse Inputs to Controller: This allows thumbstick or joystick movement to control the mouse, with buttons functioning as mouse clicks (right, left, middle). Players can essentially use their controller as a mouse and keyboard alternative for both gaming and other PC tasks, like browsing a game guide on YouTube or checking emails.
- Map Hat Switch to Alternate Joystick: External joysticks equipped with hat switches can now mimic the opposite stick function when connected to the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
Visual Accessibility Updates for Diablo IV
Diablo IV’s development team, led by Drew McCrory, prioritized accessibility, focusing on players who are blind or have low vision. In October, they introduced new features to complement the existing accessibility suite:
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Auto-Pin: Automatically drops a map pin at the destination of your chosen task or quest straight from the in-game Journal.
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Audio Navigation Assistance: This feature guides players with spatial audio cues towards their map pin, working hand-in-hand with the auto-pin system to ease navigation.
- Compass: An on-screen HUD element rotates around the player, pointing them consistently towards their set in-world pin.
These innovations earned Diablo IV a nomination for “Innovation in Accessibility” at the 2024 Game Awards. You can dive deeper by reading Blizzard’s full blog post discussing these updates.
Accessibility Features in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 introduces new accessibility features like asymmetrical hearing compensation and enhanced high contrast mode, all while maintaining long-standing settings such as reduced motion blur. The development team worked closely with accessibility advocates to fine-tune these features.
Players can now adjust spider-like enemies’ appearance, select from expanded HUD layouts, and utilize Intelligent Movement settings, personalizing the gaming experience. These enhancements landed Black Ops 6 a nomination for an “Innovation in Accessibility” award at The Game Awards.
Celebrating the Life of Ibelin in World of Warcraft
Marking a heartfelt moment, World of Warcraft commemorates the story of Mats “Ibelin” Steen, a Norwegian player who touched many lives with his journey battling Duchenne muscular dystrophy. To honor him, they released the Reven pack in both Modern and Classic versions of the game, with proceeds supporting CureDuchenne, a nonprofit leading the charge in research and care for those with this condition.
Find more about the Reven pack and CureDuchenne’s mission for impactful change.
For insights on how Microsoft approaches Inclusive Design, visit their platform for further details.
