ESA Launches Initiative for Game Accessibility Details

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has launched an exciting new project at the Game Developers Conference, known as the Accessible Games Initiative. This initiative introduces a "tag" system designed to enhance the accessibility of video games for consumers. It's a collaborative effort spearheaded by major players in the industry, including Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and Ubisoft, with additional support from Amazon, Riot Games, Square Enix, and WB Games. The ESA will oversee this initiative, ensuring its smooth operation and continued development.

Under this new system, participating companies will apply specific "tags" to their games, selected from a curated list of 24 accessibility features. These tags will be displayed alongside the game's details on digital storefronts and product pages, making it easier for consumers to find games that meet their accessibility needs. The tags cover a wide range of features, from "clear text" and "large and clear subtitles" to "narrated menus," "stick inversion," "save anytime," "difficulty levels," and "playable without button holds," among others.

Stanley Pierre-Louis, the president and CEO of ESA, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "Tens of millions of Americans have a disability and often face barriers to experiencing the joy and connection that comes with playing video games. We are immensely proud to announce the Accessible Games Initiative in partnership with industry leaders. This initiative demonstrates how impactful we can be when we work together in our industry-wide pursuit of helping more people experience the power of play."

The rollout of these tags will be gradual, implemented on a company-by-company basis, and initially available only in English. The ESA plans to continually refine and expand the tag system, potentially adding new tags or modifying existing ones to better serve the gaming community.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the Accessible Games Initiative tags, categorized by their respective features:

Auditory Features

Tag: Multiple Volume Controls

Description: Separate volume controls are available for different types of sounds, allowing players to adjust music, speech, sound effects, background audio, text-to-speech audio, accessibility audio cues, and voice chat independently. Additionally, a single control can adjust all game sounds simultaneously.

Tag: Mono Sound

Description: Players can opt for mono audio, where the same audio is sent to all channels, providing a unified audio experience.

Tag: Stereo Sound

Description: This tag indicates the availability of stereo audio, where sounds indicate their left or right origin but not their vertical or depth position.

Tag: Surround Sound

Description: Games with this tag support surround sound, allowing sounds to be perceived from any direction, enhancing the immersive experience.

Tag: Narrated Menus

Description: This feature supports screen readers or voice narration for menus and notifications, enabling players to navigate through menus one item at a time with auditory feedback.

Tag: Chat Speech-to-Text & Text-to-Speech

Description: This dual-function tag allows for real-time narration of text chats and transcription of voice chats, enhancing communication accessibility.

Gameplay Features

Tag: Difficulty Levels

Description: Players can choose from various difficulty settings, with at least one option designed to lessen the intensity of challenges, and the differences between levels are clearly explained.

Tag: Save Anytime

Description: This feature allows players to manually save their progress at any time, except during specific game states like saving or loading, or when saving could disrupt gameplay.

Input Features

Tag: Basic Input Remapping

Description: Players can rearrange button controls through swapping or other methods, though full remapping of all game controls is covered under the "Full Input Remapping" tag.

Tag: Full Input Remapping

Description: This tag signifies the ability to assign any game action to any input method, including keyboard, mouse, controllers, and virtual on-screen controls, with the option to swap controller stick functions.

Tag: Stick Inversion

Description: Players can invert the directional inputs, such as thumbsticks, affecting how game movement responds to up, down, left, and right directions.

Tag: Playable without Button Holds

Description: The game can be played without requiring players to hold down buttons, though some analog inputs like sticks or triggers might still need holding.

Tag: Playable without Rapid Button Presses

Description: This tag indicates games that do not require repetitive button actions, such as button mashing or quick-time events.

Tag: Playable with Keyboard Only

Description: Players can enjoy the game using only a keyboard, without the need for any other input devices.

Tag: Playable with Mouse Only

Description: This feature allows gameplay using only a mouse or adaptive technology that maps to mouse inputs.

Tag: Playable with Buttons Only

Description: Games with this tag can be controlled using only digital inputs like buttons or keys, where pressure does not affect the control.

Tag: Playable with Touch Only

Description: Players can use touch controls exclusively, without the need for non-touch inputs like buttons or analog sticks.

Tag: Playable Without Motion Controls

Description: This tag ensures players can enjoy the game without the use of motion controls.

Tag: Playable Without Touch Controls

Description: Games can be played without using touchpads or touchscreens, offering alternative control methods.

Visual Features

Tag: Clear Text

Description: Menus, control panels, and settings feature text that is reasonably sized and adjustable for contrast, with options for less stylized fonts.

Tag: Large Text

Description: This tag indicates the availability of large font sizes for text in menus, control panels, and settings.

Tag: Large & Clear Subtitles

Description: Subtitles for all dialogue are available, with options for size, background transparency, and font style, ensuring they do not overlap with important game elements.

Tag: Color Alternatives

Description: Important information is communicated through shapes, patterns, icons, or text, rather than relying solely on color, or color can be adjusted.

Tag: Camera Comfort

Description: This feature ensures that camera effects, which could cause discomfort or harm, can be turned off or adjusted, including shaking, swaying, bobbing, motion blur, and forced narrative-based movement.

The Accessible Games Initiative marks a significant step forward in making video games more inclusive, ensuring that more players can enjoy the thrill and community of gaming, regardless of their abilities.