Improving Accessibility in Video Games

What is it about?

Video games are an important form of entertainment and have become an increasingly popular pastime in the 21st Century. However, many people with disabilities are still excluded from gaming due to accessibility barriers. While some progress has been made in recognizing accessibility as a design value, there is still a significant need for further advancements in game accessibility. Our ongoing research is about developing an accessibility-focused framework for game designers, to help them to design customizable accessibility options in their games.

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Photo by Bartek Mazurek on Unsplash

Photo by Bartek Mazurek on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The importance of accessibility in games cannot be overstated as it allows games to be inclusive to everyone. It should be possible for all individuals to enjoy and fully participate in the gaming experience, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. However, although over one billion people (~15% of the world’s population) identify as having some form of disability, many of them face accessibility barriers that make it challenging to play and enjoy games. This exclusion can lead to feelings of isolation and frustration. Hence, through understanding and improving the landscape of accessibility options in video games, this project promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion in the gaming industry. The focus on player customization in this project considers that all gamers with disabilities have different needs and preferences, and thus require different accessibility features to fully enjoy the game. This approach acknowledges that gaming needs to be an equitable experience for everyone. Furthermore, the project seeks to analyze existing games of various genres on different gaming platforms to identify current customizable accessibility features that are available. The study also includes interviewing current game designers responsible for adding accessible options and gamers with disabilities to gain their perspectives. The aspect of including a multitude of perspectives and experiences recognizes the importance of diversity in creating accessible games. Finally, the project’s goal of analyzing existing games and interviews will provide insights into which accessibility options are most effective and needed for games to support those with disabilities. This knowledge can be used to promote inclusive game design that caters to the needs and preferences of gamers with disabilities, who are often underrepresented in gaming.

Perspectives