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New Initiative Aims to Enhance Accessibility in Video Games
Leading console manufacturers and game developers such as Microsoft, Nintendo, and Electronic Arts have collaborated on a groundbreaking initiative designed to improve awareness of accessibility features in video games. Managed by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), this initiative is set to provide clearer information regarding the accessibility options available in various games.
At the heart of the Accessible Games Initiative is a set of 24 newly defined accessibility tags that will be integrated into the storefronts and product pages of participating games. These tags are crafted to be user-friendly, providing straightforward definitions of features like subtitles, input remapping, text-to-speech, speech-to-text in chat, and narrated menus, allowing players to identify crucial features before making a purchase. For those interested in the full list of tags and their meanings, comprehensive details can be found on the initiative’s official website. Furthermore, the ESA plans to equip developers with the necessary criteria to facilitate the incorporation of accessibility features into their games.
The introduction of these tags is intended to complement existing accessibility information already present on product pages. However, some companies may opt to exclusively use the new “cross-industry” standard. For instance, Microsoft aims to eliminate redundancy by replacing its existing Xbox Game Accessibility Feature tags with equivalent ones from the Accessible Games Initiative, while retaining its unique tags that fall outside this initiative.
The Accessible Games Initiative originated from collaborative efforts among major gaming entities, including Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Ubisoft. Notably, several other companies, such as Amazon Games, Riot Games, Square Enix, and Warner Bros. Games, have joined this initiative just in time for its launch.
Establishing a standardized method to disclose accessibility features has become increasingly vital. Although developers have made strides in integrating accessibility options into their games, players who have specific needs have often relied on third-party platforms like Can I Play That? to assess how effectively these features have been implemented. The introduction of these tags holds promise for resolving these challenges.
Nonetheless, there remains uncertainty about when these tags will be fully integrated. The ESA has indicated to The Verge that “the timeline for implementation of the tags is company-dependent,” suggesting that players may face a waiting period before the benefits of the Accessible Games Initiative are widely accessible.
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www.engadget.com