Today, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) unveiled the Accessible Games Initiative, a groundbreaking "tag" system designed to enhance video game accessibility for consumers. Announced at the Game Developers Conference, this initiative was spearheaded by a coalition including Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and Ubisoft. The initiative has since expanded to include Amazon, Riot Games, Square Enix, and WB Games, and will be overseen by the ESA.
Under this initiative, participating video game companies will label their games with specific "tags" from a curated list of 24. These tags will be prominently displayed near the game's project information on digital storefronts and product pages, providing crucial accessibility details to potential buyers.
The tags cover a wide range of features, including "clear text," "large and clear subtitles," "narrated menus," "stick inversion," "save anytime," "difficulty levels," "playable without button holds," and more. These labels aim to make it easier for players with disabilities to find games that meet their needs.
Stanley Pierre-Louis, ESA president and CEO, 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 occur gradually, on a company-by-company basis, and participation is not mandatory. Initially, the tags will be available in English only, with potential for expansion and adjustments to the tags over time.
Accessible Games Initiative Tags:
Auditory Features
Tag: Multiple Volume Controls
Description: Separate volume controls are available for different types of sounds. Players can adjust the volume for music, speech, sound effects, background audio, text-to-speech audio, accessibility audio cues, and voice chat, as well as a master volume control for all game sounds.
Tag: Mono Sound
Description: Allows players to use mono audio, where the same audio is sent to all channels, providing a single, combined audio experience.
Tag: Stereo Sound
Description: Enables stereo audio, allowing players to discern the left or right origin of sounds, but not their vertical or depth position.
Tag: Surround Sound
Description: Supports surround sound, providing directional audio cues from any direction.
Tag: Narrated Menus
Description: Allows the use of screen readers or voice narration for menus and notifications, with full control over interactions and announcements.
Tag: Chat Speech-to-Text & Text-to-Speech
Description: Facilitates text-to-speech and speech-to-text for in-game chats, allowing real-time narration of text chats and transcripts of voice chats.
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: Permits manual saving at any time, with exceptions during game-saving/loading or scenarios that could cause game-breaking issues.
Input Features
Tag: Basic Input Remapping
Description: Allows rearrangement of button controls, with the "Full Input Remapping" tag offering more comprehensive control remapping.
Tag: Full Input Remapping
Description: Enables complete remapping of all game controls across supported input methods, including swapping controller stick functionality.
Tag: Stick Inversion
Description: Allows players to invert direction inputs for thumbsticks and flight sticks, affecting up/down and left/right movement.
Tag: Playable without Button Holds
Description: Permits gameplay without the need to hold digital inputs, although some analog inputs may still require holds.
Tag: Playable without Rapid Button Presses
Description: Eliminates the need for repetitive button actions like button mashing and quick-time events.
Tag: Playable with Keyboard Only
Description: Allows gameplay using only a keyboard, without 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 using only digital inputs like buttons or keys, without pressure-sensitive controls.
Tag: Playable with Touch Only
Description: Supports gameplay using only touch controls, without the need for non-touch inputs.
Tag: Playable Without Motion Controls
Description: Allows gameplay without the use of motion controls.
Tag: Playable Without Touch Controls
Description: Permits gameplay without touchpads or touchscreens.
Visual Features
Tag: Chat Speech-to-Text & Text-to-Speech
Description: Facilitates text-to-speech and speech-to-text for in-game chats, allowing real-time narration of text chats and transcripts of voice chats.
Tag: Clear Text
Description: Ensures text in menus, control panels, and settings is of a reasonable size with adjustable contrast, using less stylized fonts.
Tag: Large Text
Description: Offers large font sizes for text in menus, control panels, and settings, relative to the device's screen resolution.
Tag: Large & Clear Subtitles
Description: Provides subtitles for all dialogue with adjustable size, transparency, and font style, ensuring they do not overlap with important game elements.
Tag: Color Alternatives
Description: Uses shape, pattern, icons, or text instead of color to communicate important information, or allows color adjustments.
Tag: Camera Comfort
Description: Prevents or allows adjustment of camera effects that might cause discomfort, such as shaking, swaying, bobbing, motion blur, or forced movement.
