It’s taken too long, but accessibility is finally being acknowledged by the games industry. Sony, along with the other major platform holders, has been playing a big role in this charge – and has solidified its efforts with a new website dedicated to detailing some of the features and functions of both its hardware and first-party games.
The page includes a foreword from boss Jim Ryan, where he states that his company is constantly striving to “build a future for players of all abilities”. The page then goes on to detail some of the PS5’s built-in accessibility features, such as its screen reader and magnification tools.
Additionally, it displays a number of first-party PlayStation Studios games, and details all of their available accessibility options. There are also guides and instructions for how to set some of this stuff up, and a message about Sony’s workplace culture: “We aim for an inclusive and accessible company culture that ignites hope, inspires innovation, and propels the business forward.”
You can view the website for yourself through here.
[source playstation.com]
Comments 15
Wow! I have no idea there was a colour-blind mode for my Protanopia. Thanks Sony!
Good start but they really need a controller similar to what Xbox has for allowing each input method to work adaptively. Sony's version of the Adaptive Controller for both PS4 and PS5 games would be the next step forward for inclusivity
As someone who regularly completes accessibility testing for a large corporation, I applaud every bit of this. Making things more accessible to all is a never-ending quest. In gaming, it is so great to see more and more options making things more accessible. The Last of Us 2 is simply incredible in this regard and the first game I've noticed have such robust accessibility options. Since then, I have noticed so many more developers do the same.
@mittensknox A better show of support would be to make the Xbox Adaptive controller compatible with Playstation systems. Developing their own, when Xbox already has a key near-standard tool in the space, would waste development resources, time, and most maddeningly, force players to purchase all new hardware.
I don't know how helpful this will be but I think all strides in the accessibility department must be applauded. So thanks Sony.
@MFTWrecks Yep, it’s already insanely expensive just to enjoy the same games that I and many of us would play with the default controller. Adding another controller on top of that is yet another thing to buy.
and no web browser for the PS5
I'm hoping do you start adding more accessibility options. Like the ability to use the zoom function while Broadcasting. I would also love Alexa connectivity to control things. Their mobile app needs an overhaul too
@nessisonett @MFTWrecks why not both? Support the Xbox adaptive controller, but also come out with their own thing that supports everything the DualSense does?
It's nice for disabled people to have choices too, and to be able to get as close to the experience everyone else gets as possible, as well as acknowledging that accessibility is often expensive, and it's good to be able to use your existing kit.
The best possible support would be to mandate for every developer to put support into their games. But given the number of hurdles everyone would have to jump through, even single-person developers, it isn't entirely feasible. I'm curious as to how mental health can be tackled using videogames, as a lot of people find videogames just existing is a huge amount of help, let alone proper support.
I applaud the platform holders for doing this, and I hope it continues to expand in the future.
@MFTWrecks The PS5 already has a limited support for the DualShock 4 let alone an Xbox Adaptive Controller. I say it would never happen. They'll come up with their own take if it comes to it.
Great job Sony. The Last of Us: Part II has the greatest range of accessibility options I’ve ever seen in a game.
More Accessibility Options is always a good thing, especially for someone like me who needs to make adjustments on a game-by-game basis, especially in the audio and subtitles department because of my poor hearing and poor eyesight. I can't even play Persona 5 Strikers because there's no options to adjust the audio, because the background music is louder than the dialogue, and in a lot of cases the dialogue is too quiet in some parts even when the background music isn't too loud, which sucks because Japanese developed games often have some of the best audio.
@shamirqushairi I'm not disagreeing. But it doesn't mean that's what's best for the users who need their support.
Bravo to Sony for creating this website!
Tap here to load 15 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...