The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has unveiled the Accessible Games Initiative, a groundbreaking "tag" system designed to enhance video game accessibility by providing clear information about accessibility features to consumers. Announced at the Game Developers Conference, this initiative is the result of collaboration among industry giants including Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and Ubisoft, with further support from Amazon, Riot Games, Square Enix, and WB Games. The initiative, which will be overseen by the ESA, aims to make gaming more inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.
Under this initiative, participating video game companies will use a standardized set of 24 tags to label their games, providing crucial accessibility information 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," ensuring that players with various needs can easily identify games that cater to their requirements.
Stanley Pierre-Louis, ESA president and CEO, emphasized the initiative's importance, 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. Over time, the ESA may introduce additional tags or refine existing ones to better serve the gaming community.
Accessible Games Initiative Tags:
Auditory Features
Tag: Multiple Volume Controls
Description: Separate volume controls are available for different types of sounds, allowing players to adjust music, speech, sound effects, background audio, text-to-speech audio, accessibility audio cues, and voice chat individually. Additionally, a master volume control is provided to adjust all sounds at once.
Tag: Mono Sound
Description: This feature enables players to use mono audio, sending the same audio to all channels for a unified sound experience, ideal for those with hearing impairments in one ear.
Tag: Stereo Sound
Description: Stereo audio is supported, allowing players to discern the directionality of sounds from left to right, though it does not include vertical or front-to-back positioning.
Tag: Surround Sound
Description: Players can enjoy surround sound, which provides a more immersive experience by indicating the direction of sounds from any direction.
Tag: Narrated Menus
Description: This feature supports screen readers or voice narration for menus and notifications, enabling players to navigate through the game's interface without relying on visual cues.
Tag: Chat Speech-to-Text & Text-to-Speech
Description: This tag facilitates real-time speech-to-text and text-to-speech conversion for in-game chats, enhancing communication for players with hearing or speech impairments.
Gameplay Features
Tag: Difficulty Levels
Description: Players can choose from multiple difficulty settings, including options that reduce the challenge intensity, with clear descriptions of what each level entails.
Tag: Save Anytime
Description: This feature allows players to manually save their progress at any time, with exceptions during certain game states such as saving or loading, or during scenarios that could block progress.
Input Features
Tag: Basic Input Remapping
Description: Players can rearrange button controls, allowing for personalized control schemes through simple methods like button swapping.
Tag: Full Input Remapping
Description: This tag offers complete control customization, allowing players to assign any game action to any supported input method, including keyboard, mouse, controllers, and on-screen controls.
Tag: Stick Inversion
Description: Players can invert the direction of movement inputs, such as thumbsticks, to suit their preferences.
Tag: Playable without Button Holds
Description: The game can be played without the need to hold down buttons, though some analog inputs may still require continuous pressure.
Tag: Playable without Rapid Button Presses
Description: This feature eliminates the need for repetitive button actions like button mashing or quick-time events.
Tag: Playable with Keyboard Only
Description: The game can be fully controlled using only a keyboard, without the need for other input devices.
Tag: Playable with Mouse Only
Description: Players can control the game using only a mouse, including support for adaptive technologies that map to mouse inputs.
Tag: Playable with Buttons Only
Description: The game and its menus can be navigated using only digital inputs, such as buttons or keys, where the pressure applied does not affect the controls.
Tag: Playable with Touch Only
Description: Players can interact with the game using only touch controls, without the need for non-touch inputs like buttons or analog sticks.
Tag: Playable Without Motion Controls
Description: This feature allows players to enjoy the game without relying on motion control inputs.
Tag: Playable Without Touch Controls
Description: Players can play the game without using touchpads or touchscreens, ensuring compatibility with traditional input methods.
Visual Features
Tag: Chat Speech-to-Text & Text-to-Speech
Description: This tag, which also appears under auditory features, supports real-time speech-to-text and text-to-speech for in-game chats, enhancing accessibility for both auditory and visual needs.
Tag: Clear Text
Description: Text in menus, control panels, and settings is presented at a reasonable size with adjustable contrast, ensuring readability for all players.
Tag: Large Text
Description: Players can increase the font size for text in menus, control panels, and settings to enhance visibility.
Tag: Large & Clear Subtitles
Description: Subtitles for all dialogue are provided in a readable size with adjustable background transparency, ensuring they do not overlap with important game elements.
Tag: Color Alternatives
Description: Important information is communicated using shapes, patterns, icons, or text instead of relying solely on color, with options to adjust color settings.
Tag: Camera Comfort
Description: This feature ensures that camera effects such as shaking, swaying, bobbing, or motion blur, which may cause discomfort, can be turned off or adjusted to suit player needs.
