The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has unveiled 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 such as Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and Ubisoft. Additional support has come from Amazon, Riot Games, Square Enix, and WB Games, with the ESA overseeing the initiative's management.
Under this initiative, participating video game companies will utilize a set of 24 approved "tags" to label their games, providing clear information about accessibility features. These tags will be displayed alongside the game's project details on digital storefronts and product pages, making it easier for players to find games that meet their specific needs.
The tags cover a range of features, including "clear text," "large and clear subtitles," "narrated menus," "stick inversion," "save anytime," "difficulty levels," "playable without button holds," and more. These tags aim to address various accessibility needs, from auditory and visual to gameplay and input requirements.
Stanley Pierre-Louis, ESA's 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 occur gradually, on a company-by-company basis, and is not mandatory. Initially, the tags will be available only in English, with potential future expansions or modifications to the tag system.
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 independently. A master volume control is also available to adjust all game sounds at once.
Tag: Mono Sound
Description: Players can enjoy the game with mono audio, where the same audio is sent to all channels, providing a single, combined audio experience.
Tag: Stereo Sound
Description: This feature allows players to experience stereo audio, where sounds indicate their left or right origin, enhancing the gaming experience.
Tag: Surround Sound
Description: Players can immerse themselves in surround sound, where audio cues come from any direction, creating a more realistic gaming environment.
Tag: Narrated Menus
Description: This tag indicates that the game supports screen readers or voice narration for menus and notifications, allowing players to navigate and understand game interfaces through audio cues.
Tag: Chat Speech-to-Text & Text-to-Speech
Description: Players can use text-to-speech and speech-to-text for in-game chats, enabling real-time narration of text chats and transcription 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 other methods, to customize their gaming experience.
Tag: Full Input Remapping
Description: This tag indicates that players can remap all game controls across various input methods, including keyboards, mice, controllers, and virtual on-screen controllers, offering extensive customization.
Tag: Stick Inversion
Description: Players can invert the direction of thumbsticks or flight sticks, adjusting how these inputs affect game movement.
Tag: Playable without Button Holds
Description: The game can be played without the need to hold down buttons, although some analog inputs may still require holds.
Tag: Playable without Rapid Button Presses
Description: This feature allows players to avoid repetitive button actions, such as button mashing or quick-time events.
Tag: Playable with Keyboard Only
Description: Players can enjoy the game using only a keyboard, without the need for additional devices.
Tag: Playable with Mouse Only
Description: The game can be played using only a mouse, including support for adaptive technology that maps to mouse inputs.
Tag: Playable with Buttons Only
Description: Players can control the game and menus using only digital inputs, such as buttons or keys, where pressure does not affect the controls.
Tag: Playable with Touch Only
Description: This tag indicates that the game can be played using only touch controls, without the need for non-touch inputs.
Tag: Playable Without Motion Controls
Description: Players can enjoy the game without using motion controls.
Tag: Playable Without Touch Controls
Description: The game can be played without using touchpads or touchscreens.
Visual Features
Tag: Chat Speech-to-Text & Text-to-Speech
Description: This tag, which includes both auditory and visual features, allows players to use text-to-speech and speech-to-text for in-game chats, providing real-time narration and transcription.
Tag: Clear Text
Description: Text in menus, control panels, and settings is displayed at a reasonable size with adjustable contrast, ensuring readability across different screen resolutions and viewing distances.
Tag: Large Text
Description: Players can adjust text in menus, control panels, and settings to a large font size, enhancing visibility.
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 to meet player needs.
Tag: Camera Comfort
Description: This feature ensures that camera effects, such as shaking, swaying, bobbing, motion blur, camera speed, and forced narrative-based movement, can be turned off or adjusted to prevent discomfort or harm.
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