ESA Launches Initiative for Game Accessibility Details

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has launched the Accessible Games Initiative, a groundbreaking "tag" system designed to enhance video game accessibility. Announced at the Game Developers Conference, this initiative is a collaborative effort from industry giants 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 the management of this initiative, which aims to provide consumers with clear accessibility feature information.

Under this initiative, participating companies will tag their games with 24 specific accessibility features, displayed alongside game details on digital storefronts and product pages. These tags cover a wide range of features, from "clear text" and "large and clear subtitles" to "narrated menus" and "stick inversion," helping players identify games that meet their specific accessibility needs.

Stanley Pierre-Louis, ESA's president and CEO, emphasized the initiative's significance, 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 also plans to refine and expand the tag system over time, ensuring it continues to meet the evolving needs of gamers.

Accessible Games Initiative Tags:

Auditory Features

Tag: Multiple Volume Controls

Description: Separate volume controls are available for different types of sounds, allowing you to adjust the volume for music, speech, sound effects, background audio, text-to-speech audio, accessibility audio cues, and voice chat. Additionally, all game sounds can be adjusted at once using one volume control.

Tag: Mono Sound

Description: This feature allows you to play with mono audio, sending the same audio to all channels, which is beneficial for players with hearing impairments in one ear.

Tag: Stereo Sound

Description: Enables gameplay with stereo audio, where sounds indicate their left or right origin, enhancing the gaming experience for those who can benefit from directional audio cues.

Tag: Surround Sound

Description: Supports surround sound, providing a more immersive experience by indicating the direction of sounds, including up, down, forward, and backward.

Tag: Narrated Menus

Description: Allows the use of screen readers or voice narration for menus and notifications, ensuring that players with visual impairments can navigate the game easily.

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

Description: Facilitates text-to-speech and speech-to-text for game chats, enabling real-time narration of text chats and transcription of voice chats, enhancing communication for players with hearing or speech impairments.

*This tag includes both auditory and visual features.

Gameplay Features

Tag: Difficulty Levels

Description: Offers multiple difficulty options, including at least one that reduces challenge intensity, with clear descriptions of the differences between levels.

Tag: Save Anytime

Description: Allows manual saving at any time, with exceptions during saving/loading or when it could result in game-breaking scenarios.

Input Features

Tag: Basic Input Remapping

Description: Permits rearrangement of button controls, which can be swapped or rearranged by other methods. For full remapping, see the "Full Input Remapping" tag.

Tag: Full Input Remapping

Description: Enables complete customization of game controls across all supported input methods, including keyboards, mice, controllers, and virtual on-screen controllers, with the ability to swap controller stick functionality.

Tag: Stick Inversion

Description: Allows you to change how directional inputs affect game movement, suitable for players who prefer inverted controls.

Tag: Playable without Button Holds

Description: Ensures gameplay without the need to hold buttons, though some analog inputs may still require holding.

Tag: Playable without Rapid Button Presses

Description: Eliminates the need for repetitive button actions like button mashing, making the game accessible for players with motor impairments.

Tag: Playable with Keyboard Only

Description: Allows gameplay using only a keyboard, ideal for players who prefer or require this input method.

Tag: Playable with Mouse Only

Description: Supports gameplay using only a mouse, including adaptive technology that maps to mouse inputs.

Tag: Playable with Buttons Only

Description: Enables gameplay using only digital inputs, such as buttons or keys, without requiring pressure-sensitive controls.

Tag: Playable with Touch Only

Description: Allows gameplay using only touch controls, ensuring accessibility for players who rely on touch interfaces.

Tag: Playable Without Motion Controls

Description: Permits gameplay without the need for motion controls, catering to players who may not be able to use them.

Tag: Playable Without Touch Controls

Description: Allows gameplay without the use of touchpads or touchscreens, ensuring accessibility for those who prefer or require other input methods.

Visual Features

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

Description: Facilitates text-to-speech and speech-to-text for game chats, enabling real-time narration of text chats and transcription of voice chats, enhancing communication for players with hearing or speech impairments.

*This tag includes both auditory and visual features.

Tag: Clear Text

Description: Ensures text in menus, control panels, and settings is reasonably sized and adjustable for contrast, with options for less stylized fonts.

Tag: Large Text

Description: Provides the option for large font sizes in menus, control panels, and settings, improving readability for players with visual impairments.

Tag: Large & Clear Subtitles

Description: Offers subtitles for all dialogue, with adjustable size, background transparency, and font options, ensuring they do not overlap with important game elements.

Tag: Color Alternatives

Description: Ensures that important information is not solely conveyed through color, with options to use shape, pattern, icons, or text instead.

Tag: Camera Comfort

Description: Prevents or allows adjustment of camera effects that may cause discomfort, such as shaking, swaying, bobbing, motion blur, camera speed, and forced narrative-based movement.