ESA Launches Initiative for Accessible Gaming Features

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has launched the Accessible Games Initiative, a groundbreaking "tag" system designed to enhance video game accessibility for 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 additional support from Amazon, Riot Games, Square Enix, and WB Games. The ESA will oversee the management of this initiative.

Under this new system, participating game companies will use a set of 24 approved tags to label their games, providing clear information about accessibility features. These tags will be displayed alongside game details on digital storefronts and product pages, making it easier for players to find games that meet their specific needs.

The tags cover a wide range of accessibility features, including "clear text," "large and clear subtitles," "narrated menus," "stick inversion," "save anytime," "difficulty levels," and "playable without button holds," among others. This initiative aims to break down barriers for the tens of millions of Americans with disabilities, allowing them to fully enjoy the social and entertainment aspects of video gaming.

Stanley Pierre-Louis, ESA's 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 be gradual, implemented on a company-by-company basis, and initially available only in English. The ESA plans to continuously refine and expand the tag system based on feedback and evolving needs.

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 independently. A master volume control is also available to adjust all game sounds simultaneously.

Tag: Mono Sound

Description: This feature enables players to experience the game with mono audio, where the same audio is sent to all channels, providing a single, combined audio channel.

Tag: Stereo Sound

Description: Players can enjoy stereo audio, which helps them identify the direction of sounds from left to right, though it does not indicate sounds coming from above, below, ahead, or behind.

Tag: Surround Sound

Description: This tag indicates that the game supports surround sound, allowing players to pinpoint 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 menus one item at a time with audio feedback.

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

Description: Players can use text-to-speech and speech-to-text for in-game chats, with real-time narration of text chats and text transcripts of voice chats.

Gameplay Features

Tag: Difficulty Levels

Description: Players can choose from multiple difficulty settings, including at least one option that reduces the intensity of challenges, with clear descriptions of the differences between levels.

Tag: Save Anytime

Description: This feature allows players to manually save their progress at any time, with exceptions during game-saving or loading, or when saving could lead to game-breaking scenarios.

Input Features

Tag: Basic Input Remapping

Description: Players can rearrange button controls, either by swapping or using another method. This is distinct from "Full Input Remapping," which allows remapping of all game controls across various input methods.

Tag: Full Input Remapping

Description: Players have the flexibility to assign any game action to any control across all supported input methods, including keyboard, mouse, controllers, and virtual on-screen controllers.

Tag: Stick Inversion

Description: This feature allows players to invert the direction of movement for directional inputs like thumbsticks and flight sticks.

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 holding.

Tag: Playable without Rapid Button Presses

Description: Players can avoid repetitive button actions such as button mashing and quick-time events.

Tag: Playable with Keyboard Only

Description: The game can be played using only a keyboard, without the need for any other input devices.

Tag: Playable with Mouse Only

Description: Players can use only a mouse to play the game, including with adaptive technology that maps to mouse inputs.

Tag: Playable with Buttons Only

Description: The game and menus can be controlled using only digital inputs like buttons or keys, where the pressure applied does not affect the controls.

Tag: Playable with Touch Only

Description: Players can use only touch controls to play the game, without the need for non-touch controls like buttons or analog sticks.

Tag: Playable Without Motion Controls

Description: This feature allows players to enjoy the game without using motion controls.

Tag: Playable Without Touch Controls

Description: Players can play the game without using touchpads or touchscreens.

Visual Features

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

Description: This feature, which also falls under auditory features, allows for real-time narration of text chats and text transcripts of voice chats.

Tag: Clear Text

Description: Text in menus, control panels, and settings is displayed at a reasonable size with adjustable contrast, using less stylized fonts or options for font change.

Tag: Large Text

Description: Players can adjust text in menus, control panels, and settings to a large size relative to the device's screen resolution and typical viewing distance.

Tag: Large & Clear Subtitles

Description: Subtitles for all dialogue are available, with options for size, background transparency, and font style, ensuring they do not overlap with important game elements.

Tag: Color Alternatives

Description: Important information is communicated using shape, pattern, icons, or text instead of color, or color can be adjusted.

Tag: Camera Comfort

Description: This feature ensures that camera effects that may cause discomfort or harm, such as shaking, swaying, bobbing, motion blur, camera speed, and forced narrative-based movement, can be turned off or adjusted.

This initiative marks a significant step forward in making video games more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, reflecting the industry's commitment to inclusivity and player satisfaction.