Over a billion people experience disability globally, and many are gamers. 30% of gamers in the U.S. identify as disabled, yet 66% say they face barriers or issues related to gaming.
Fortunately, this situation is starting to change.
From Tribe Games and Owlchemy Labs to Insomniac and Naughty Dog, studios of all sizes are creating more accessible gaming experiences. Today, 70% of all players use accessibility features built into games, whether they have a disability or not. Players want flexibility, and accessible game design can provide that.
Owlchemy Labs, the studio behind titles like Job Simulator, Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality, and, most recently, Cosmonious High, champions accessibility in VR. In June, they introduced Cosmonious High’s first accessibility update, with a range of updated gameplay options, including one-handed control mode, features to accommodate seated players, colorblindness enhancements, an immersive subtitling system, and more.
Andrew Eiche (chief operating owl and cable slinger), Jazmin Cano (accessibility product manager), and Peter Galbraith (accessibility engineer) joined Unity’s Hasan Al Salman on Twitch to discuss the update.
Read on to learn how this innovative studio built a culture of accessibility, get tips you can apply to your own games, or watch the full stream below.
Source: Unity Technologies Blog