In the game world, a remarkable step was taken to increase inclusiveness. Nintendo of America, Microsoft, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts and Google came together in a new attempt to share the accessibility features in the games with users in a more open and standard way. This initiative, which is directed by the American Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and called “Accessible Games Initiative ,, aims to provide players more transparent information about accessibility options before buying games.
Within the framework of this cooperation, developers will begin to implement 24 different accessibility labels to be used in digital stores and product pages. Tags;; Visual, audio, gameplay and control categories are divided. These include “narrative menus”, “big and net subtitles”, “different difficulties”, “full entry re -assignment”, “still playability”.
According to the statement made by ESA, the use of labels will be based on a voluntary basis for each developer and the application calendar will be determined according to the internal planning of companies. Aubrey Quinn, Senior Vice President of ESA Communication, said that companies work in coordination with their internal departments and preparations for bringing the system to the game lovers continues.
Accessibility labels in the technical infrastructure of the initiative are quite comprehensive. For example; Among the control labels, only the touch, but only with a key or keyboard with options, such as options, such as visual accessibility side of the large font, camera comfort and color alternatives. In the auditory area, the features such as translation and narrative menus from speech to text draw attention.
Sony Interactive Entertainment is not among the founding members, although the initiative contributes to the first planning process. ESA, while avoiding commenting on this issue, Sony façade could not get any response. On the other hand, Amazon Games, Riot Games, Square Enix and Warner Bros. Important companies such as Games are among the companies that support the initiative.
Speaking on behalf of Microsoft, Anna Waismeyer said that both available accessibility labels and labels of the newly initiated initiative will be used together on the Xbox platform. Ubisoft announced that the work to integrate these labels into the product pages. Riot Games announced that they play an active role in determining accessibility labels and are working on the application plan to make their games more inclusive.
Although the application process varies compared to companies, the generally accepted accessibility labels in the sector may contribute to the expansion of the player audience. The fact that users with physical or cognitive obstacles are able to select games more easily and filter the appropriate content stands out as one of the direct positive results of this initiative. If this system becomes widespread, the sensitivity of game developers about accessibility will also become more visible in the user eyes.