Accessibility
Ongoing coverage on Accessibility.
Latest coverage
Hideo Kojima Directed Team to Make Death Stranding 2 More Enjoyable So “more people finish the game”
Hideo Kojima has directed Kojima Productions to make Death Stranding 2: On the Beach more enjoyable and accessible to increase player completion rates. Lead level designer Hiroaki Yoshiike revealed that the team focused on streamlining the experience and making worldbuilding more optional, balancing depth with approachability. This design shift aims to broaden the game's appeal and improve player engagement compared to the original Death Stranding.
Pokemon Champions producer had a "heated discussion" with one of Game Freak's original battle designers about removing a complicated mechanic after 30 years to make PvP more accessible
Pokemon Champions will remove the IV stat system to make competitive play more accessible, a decision producer Masaaki Hoshino discussed with an original Game Freak battle designer. This change aims to lower the barrier to entry for players interested in the Player vs Player aspect of the series. The free-to-play title will serve as the official game for the Pokemon Video Game Championships.
GNOME Fellowship program announced to support "critical and under-resourced areas"
The GNOME Foundation has announced the GNOME Fellowship program to provide financial support for individuals working on critical and under-resourced areas of open source development. The program aims to address the reliance on volunteers for essential open source technologies. Applications are now open for the first cycle, which will begin in May 2026, with fellows generally working for 12 months on areas of their choosing, including build systems, testing frameworks, and documentation.
Interview: How An Italian Lunch Led To The New Standard For Competitive Pokémon Battling
Masaaki Hoshino, Game Producer and Development Director at The Pokémon Company, discusses the development of Pokémon Champions, an upcoming competitive battling game for the Nintendo Switch. Hoshino highlights the game's focus on accessibility for new players while maintaining depth for competitive fans, drawing inspiration from past titles like Pokkén Tournament and the core Pokémon battle system. The interview also touches on the game's planned roster expansion and the evolution of the series over its 30-year history.
Lies of P Sparks the Ultimate Gaming Dilemma: When Beautiful Games Have Scary Mechanics
The game Lies of P is sparking a debate about the accessibility of soulslike games, highlighting the conflict between beautiful visuals and challenging mechanics. While some players are intimidated by the genre's difficulty, others argue that the challenge is integral to the experience. The success of games like Elden Ring suggests a growing mainstream appetite for challenging titles, prompting developers to consider balancing difficulty with broader player engagement.
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Mick Donegan discusses making games accessible for all players on the Good Game Club Podcast. The interview, available on Spotify, focuses on inclusive game design principles and their importance in the industry.
“Gaming gave me my life back”: why accessible video games are transforming disabled players’ lives
Dr. Mick Donegan, founder of SpecialEffect, discusses how accessible gaming technology is transforming the lives of disabled individuals by fostering social connection and independence. Companies like Xbox and PlayStation are increasingly adopting inclusive design, with SpecialEffect leading efforts in mobile accessibility and eye-tracking games.
Screamer review - the best arcade racer of the generation
Screamer is a surprisingly strong revival of the arcade racer genre, featuring an anime-infused story mode and an engaging, risk-reward driving model. The game offers robust multiplayer options, including four-player local split-screen, and boasts excellent accessibility features. Despite a steep learning curve, its unique mechanics and vibrant presentation make it a compelling experience for fans of the genre.
Arc Raiders in the Spotlight: Accessibility Bans, AI Dialogue Fixes, and Weapon Nerfs | Invision Game
Embark Studios' PvPvE shooter Arc Raiders is facing community backlash over accessibility peripheral bans, which the company is working to resolve. The studio has also re-recorded AI-generated voice lines with human actors and implemented significant nerfs to the Il Toro shotgun. These issues, alongside concerns about a stale meta and cheating, are currently overshadowing the lack of new content and impacting player sentiment.
First big Slay the Spire 2 patch aims "to make infinites harder to achieve" and calms down the creepiest crawlies in the roguelike with a Phobia Mode
Mega Crit has released the first major balance patch for Slay the Spire 2 on its Steam beta branch, aiming to make 'infinites' harder to achieve and introducing a new 'Phobia Mode' for accessibility. The patch includes numerous buffs and nerfs intended to impact various player builds.
Slay The Spire 2 Is Becoming A Little Less Scary, But Players Are Unhappy With Patch's Nerfs
Mega Crit has released patch notes for Slay the Spire 2's v0.100.0 update, introducing a 'Phobia Mode' to adjust certain visual elements and implementing various balance changes, including nerfs to some of the Silent's cards and reduced prices for in-shop relics. While the update is currently in beta, some community members have expressed dissatisfaction with specific nerfs, such as to the Silent's Prepared skill.
GNOME 50 released with much improved Parental Controls and lots more
GNOME 50 "Tokyo" has been released, introducing significant improvements to parental controls, including screen time monitoring and limit setting. The update also enhances accessibility features, revamps the preferences window, and introduces global settings. Key technical advancements include improved Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Fractional Scaling support, low-latency cursor handling in VRR, NVIDIA performance boosts, next-generation color management, and HDR screen sharing capabilities.
Arc Raiders is banning people for using accessibility peripherals, so Embark is "working hard" to resolve the…
Embark Studios is addressing an issue where players using accessibility peripherals for Arc Raiders were being banned. After a player highlighted their ban on Reddit, the company acknowledged the problem and stated they are working to resolve it, with the affected player's account now reinstated.
You can play CS2 in Minecraft without mods, and I might actually prefer it
A fan-made project called CounterMine 2 allows players to experience Counter-Strike 2 gameplay within Minecraft, featuring weapon skins. This version is highlighted as a more accessible alternative to the original game.
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Electronic Arts' EA Sports FC 26 has made significant strides in accessibility, avoiding common pitfalls that have plagued other titles. The game is being highlighted for its groundbreaking approach to inclusive design, setting a new standard for the industry.
How EA Sports FC 26 Avoided Being A "Cautionary Tale" And Made Accessibility History
EA Sports FC 26 has been recognized for its significant advancements in game accessibility, earning multiple awards and nominations. The development team, including gameplay producer Paul Parsons and accessibility director Morgan Baker, collaborated closely with the disabled community and drew inspiration from other EA titles to implement features like High Contrast Mode and Text-to-Speech, aiming to set a new industry standard for inclusive game design.
Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch Gets Update 22.0.0, Adds ‘Handheld Mode Boost’ Option
Nintendo has released system update version 22.0.0 for both the Nintendo Switch and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. The update introduces a 'Handheld Mode Boost' option for the Switch 2, enhancing visuals and performance in compatible games. It also includes various improvements to features like Game Chat, Friend List notes, Airplane Mode, and accessibility options.
Avowed on PS5 – Making the wait for The Elder Scrolls 6 a little less painful
Obsidian Entertainment's fantasy action RPG Avowed is now available on PlayStation 5 as part of Microsoft's multiplatform strategy, offering an experience reminiscent of The Elder Scrolls series. The game features a vibrant world tied to the Pillars of Eternity universe, a compelling cast of characters, and flexible combat mechanics. While not as sprawling as Skyrim, Avowed provides a focused narrative with rewarding exploration and smart design choices, making it a strong contender in the RPG genre.
Fear not, phobia havers, Slay the Spire 2 will be catering to you in a future update
Slay the Spire 2 will be receiving a phobia accessibility mode in a future update, according to a recent newsletter. While no specific release date has been provided, developer Mega Crit is also working on revamping the badge and scoring system, adding Steam Workshop support, and improving multiplayer features. The game is currently in early access.
Slay the Spire 2 will give you the option to hide its most unsettling enemies
Mega Crit has announced that Slay the Spire 2 will include accessibility options to hide unsettling enemies, catering to players with phobias. The developer also plans to implement Steam Workshop support for the game, though a specific release timeline has not yet been provided.