ESA Launches Initiative for Game Accessibility Details

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has unveiled the Accessible Games Initiative, a groundbreaking new system designed to inform consumers about video game accessibility features through a series of "tags." This initiative was introduced at the Game Developers Conference and is a collaborative effort spearheaded by major players such as Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and Ubisoft. Additional companies, including Amazon, Riot Games, Square Enix, and WB Games, have also pledged their support, with the ESA overseeing the initiative's management.

Under this initiative, participating game developers will attach specific "tags" from a curated list of 24 to their products. These tags will appear alongside game details on digital storefronts and product pages, providing crucial information about accessibility features. Examples of tags include "clear text," "large and clear subtitles," "narrated menus," "stick inversion," "save anytime," "difficulty levels," and "playable without button holds," among others.

Stanley Pierre-Louis, ESA's president and CEO, emphasized the significance 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 and on a company-by-company basis, and participation is voluntary. Initially, the tags will be available only in English, with potential for expansion and modifications over time.

Accessible Games Initiative Tags:

Auditory Features

Tag: Multiple Volume Controls

Description: Separate volume controls are available for different types of sounds. The volume can be changed separately for music, speech, sound effects, background audio, text-to-speech audio, accessibility audio cues, and voice chat. All game sounds can also be changed at once using one volume control.

Tag: Mono Sound

Description: Allows for mono audio playback, sending the same audio to all channels, such as both left and right headphones, effectively providing a single, combined audio channel.

Tag: Stereo Sound

Description: Enables stereo audio playback, where sounds indicate their position from left to right but do not convey vertical or forward/backward directions.

Tag: Surround Sound

Description: Supports surround sound, enabling sounds to communicate their source direction, which may include any direction.

Tag: Narrated Menus

Description: Provides screen reader or voice narration support for menus and notifications, allowing players to navigate menus sequentially rather than using a cursor.

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

Description: Facilitates real-time speech-to-text and text-to-speech conversion for in-game chats, enabling both voice and text communication. This tag encompasses both auditory and visual features.

Gameplay Features

Tag: Difficulty Levels

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

Tag: Save Anytime

Description: Allows manual saving at any time, with exceptions during game-saving or loading processes, or when saving could disrupt gameplay or progress.

Input Features

Tag: Basic Input Remapping

Description: Permits the rearrangement of button controls, with options for swapping or other methods of remapping. The "Full Input Remapping" tag extends this to all game controls and input methods.

Tag: Full Input Remapping

Description: Enables complete customization of control assignments for all supported input methods, including swapping controller stick functionality.

Tag: Stick Inversion

Description: Allows for the reversal of directional inputs such as thumbsticks or flight sticks, affecting movement in up/down and left/right directions.

Tag: Playable without Button Holds

Description: Supports gameplay without the need to hold digital inputs, though some analog inputs might still require holds.

Tag: Playable without Rapid Button Presses

Description: Eliminates the need for rapid button actions like button mashing or quick-time events.

Tag: Playable with Keyboard Only

Description: Allows for gameplay using only a keyboard, without the need for additional devices.

Tag: Playable with Mouse Only

Description: Supports gameplay using only a mouse, including adaptive technologies that map to mouse inputs.

Tag: Playable with Buttons Only

Description: Enables gameplay and menu navigation using only digital inputs, where pressure sensitivity is not required.

Tag: Playable with Touch Only

Description: Facilitates gameplay using only touch controls, without requiring non-touch inputs.

Tag: Playable Without Motion Controls

Description: Allows for gameplay without the use of motion controls.

Tag: Playable Without Touch Controls

Description: Supports gameplay without the need for touchpads or touchscreens.

Visual Features

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

Description: Provides real-time speech-to-text and text-to-speech conversion for in-game chats, encompassing both auditory and visual features.

Tag: Clear Text

Description: Ensures that text in menus, control panels, and settings is of a reasonable size with adjustable contrast, using less stylized fonts or options for font changes.

Tag: Large Text

Description: Offers the option to use large font sizes for text in menus, control panels, and settings, relative to the device's screen resolution and typical viewing distance.

Tag: Large & Clear Subtitles

Description: Provides subtitles for all dialogue, with adjustable size, transparency, and non-overlapping placement, using less stylized fonts or options for font changes.

Tag: Color Alternatives

Description: Uses shape, pattern, icons, or text instead of color to communicate important information, or allows for color adjustments.

Tag: Camera Comfort

Description: Eliminates or allows adjustments to camera effects such as shaking, swaying, bobbing, motion blur, and forced narrative-based movement, which may cause discomfort or harm.