ESA Launches Initiative for Game Accessibility Information

Today, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) unveiled the Accessible Games Initiative, a groundbreaking "tag" system designed to enhance video game accessibility by providing detailed feature information to consumers. Announced at the Game Developers Conference, this initiative was developed by a coalition including major players like Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and Ubisoft. Additional industry leaders such as Amazon, Riot Games, Square Enix, and WB Games have also joined this effort, which will be overseen by the ESA.

Under this initiative, participating video game companies will tag their games with relevant accessibility features from a curated list of 24 tags. These tags will be prominently displayed alongside the game's project information on digital storefronts and product pages, helping consumers make informed decisions about the games they purchase.

The Accessible Games Initiative encompasses a wide range of accessibility features, including tags for "clear text," "large and clear subtitles," "narrated menus," "stick inversion," "save anytime," "difficulty levels," "playable without button holds," and more. These tags are designed to clearly communicate the accessibility options available in each game, ensuring that players with disabilities can find games that meet their needs.

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 occur gradually, on a company-by-company basis, and is not mandatory. Initially, the tags will be available only in English, though future expansions and adjustments to the tag system are anticipated.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the Accessible Games Initiative tags:

Auditory Features

Tag: Multiple Volume Controls

Description: Separate volume controls are available for different types of sounds, allowing for customization of music, speech, sound effects, background audio, text-to-speech audio, accessibility audio cues, and voice chat. Additionally, all game sounds can be adjusted simultaneously with a single volume control.

Tag: Mono Sound

Description: This feature allows for mono audio playback, where the same audio is sent to all channels, such as both left and right headphones, providing a single, combined audio channel.

Tag: Stereo Sound

Description: Enables stereo audio playback, where sounds indicate their left or right origin but do not convey vertical or depth information.

Tag: Surround Sound

Description: Facilitates surround sound playback, allowing sounds to communicate their direction from any angle, enhancing the immersive experience.

Tag: Narrated Menus

Description: Supports screen readers or voice narration for menus and notifications, ensuring that all menu interactions and context changes are announced audibly and can be navigated item-by-item.

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

Description: Provides text-to-speech and speech-to-text conversion for game chats, allowing real-time narration of text chats and transcription of voice chats. This tag includes both auditory and visual features.

Gameplay Features

Tag: Difficulty Levels

Description: Offers multiple difficulty options, including at least one that reduces the intensity of challenges. The differences between these levels are clearly described.

Tag: Save Anytime

Description: Allows manual saving of progress at any time, with exceptions during game-saving or loading processes, and when saving could lead to game-breaking scenarios.

Input Features

Tag: Basic Input Remapping

Description: Permits the rearrangement of button controls, such as swapping or reassigning them. This differs from "Full Input Remapping," which allows for comprehensive control remapping across all input methods.

Tag: Full Input Remapping

Description: Enables the remapping of all game controls for all supported input methods, including keyboard, mouse, controllers, and virtual on-screen controllers. It also allows for swapping controller stick functionality.

Tag: Stick Inversion

Description: Allows for the inversion of directional inputs like thumbsticks and flight sticks, affecting game movement in up, down, left, and right directions.

Tag: Playable without Button Holds

Description: The game can be played without holding digital inputs like keys or buttons, though some analog inputs may still require holds.

Tag: Playable without Rapid Button Presses

Description: Eliminates the need for 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 any other devices.

Tag: Playable with Mouse Only

Description: The game can be played using only a mouse, including adaptive technology that maps to mouse inputs.

Tag: Playable with Buttons Only

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

Tag: Playable with Touch Only

Description: The game can be played using only touch controls, without requiring non-touch inputs like buttons or analog sticks.

Tag: Playable Without Motion Controls

Description: The game can be played without the use of motion controls.

Tag: Playable Without Touch Controls

Description: The game can be played without the use of touchpads or touchscreens.

Visual Features

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

Description: Provides text-to-speech and speech-to-text conversion for game chats, allowing real-time narration of text chats and transcription of voice chats. This tag includes both auditory and visual features.

Tag: Clear Text

Description: Ensures that text in menus, control panels, and settings is displayed at a reasonable size with adjustable contrast. The font is less stylized or can be changed to a simpler option.

Tag: Large Text

Description: Offers a large font size option for text in menus, control panels, and settings, relative to the device’s screen resolution and typical viewing distance.

Tag: Large & Clear Subtitles

Description: Provides subtitles for all dialogue at a reasonable size, with adjustable background transparency and non-overlapping placement with important game elements. The font is less stylized or can be changed.

Tag: Color Alternatives

Description: Ensures that color is not the sole means of communicating important information, or that it can be adjusted. Instead, shape, pattern, icons, or text are used.

Tag: Camera Comfort

Description: Prevents or allows the adjustment of camera effects that may cause discomfort or harm, such as shaking, swaying, bobbing, motion blur, camera speed, and forced narrative-based movement.

The Accessible Games Initiative marks a significant step forward in making video games more accessible to a broader audience, reflecting the gaming industry's commitment to inclusivity and player satisfaction.