Accessible Gaming for All 

What games do you play?

I play a mix of games based on different platforms: Raspberry Pi, Windows 11 and Meta Quest 3. On the Raspberry Pi I primarily play old school platform related games via emulation software from MAME, Atari, Sega and Nintendo. When on Windows its a mix of genres but primarily multi player online environments like Fortnite and variants via Steam or driving simulation / racing series like Forza Horizon 3, 4 and 5.

What assistive technology (AT) do you use for gaming?

Technically I do not use any AT for gaming as I do not need it. However I deliberately explore all the accessibility options available on any new title I purchase and the hardware it uses well before I actually start playing the game. It’s a personal interest I have to explore the options available that would enable anyone to play that title and therefore have the same enjoyment I do.

What opportunities does gaming provide that aren’t possible in other formats? 

Electronic gaming can be, pardon the pun, a game changer for some in comparison to other means of social interaction with gaming. If you have the right hardware, the right accessibility options (on said hardware) and the right accessibility features in a game you can literally be interacting with so many others locally, nationally and internationally. eSports becomes a reality. The barriers presented by the physical environment don’t necessarily come into account e.g. how accessible is the venue or my transportation to get there?

How do gaming and AT provide opportunities for connection?

Gaming is often overlooked for its interactivity and ability to connect with others. This is the beauty of where gaming has evolved: for many I feel the social interaction is almost on par with the gaming experience. But it also allows a great deal of flexibility with the right set up. The use of AT is what helps to make it a level playing field.

What do you think game developers and more broadly AT developers could do to improve the accessibility of games?

There’s several factors that game developers and AT developers need to consider to improve the accessibility of games:

• Firstly, have a good working knowledge of what assistive technologies already exist on the different platforms you are considering porting your game to. Different platforms have different features: they are there to be utilised so don’t reinvent the wheel by creating your own in-game screen reader or captioning system when the end platform already provides you the means. Tap into them, use them.
• Equally, don’t consider accessibility as an after thought. Engage those with lived experience, and consider this broadly, when developing and testing your gaming design. Over 25% of the population live with a disability: they want to play your game and the opportunities to play with their friends and colleagues. Consider the different experiences of those with disabilities as no two people are alike.
• From an AT developer’s perspective make sure co-design with people with disabilities is first and foremost in your mind when developing the latest gaming tool. And when you have a viable product ready for market be prepared to market it not only to the gaming market but to those organisations that advocate the use of such technologies. For example the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (of which the author is a long standing member) have a dedicated accessible gaming co-hort.

What does gaming mean to you?

Gaming to me is an often overlooked occupation: it’s not just a recreational pursuit. It’s a means of connecting, of socialising, of being part of a bigger community that is not hampered by the physical barriers so often present in our environment. It’s a means of taking risks and challenges that otherwise can often be impractical to pursue.

A classic example is some of the features released in Forza Motosport with blind driving assists which are highly configurable and factor in settings such as steering guides, audible cues (deceleration, turns, track limits, wrong way, gear shifts) and AI takeover. How can you otherwise experience the exhilaration of driving at high speed without the limitations of indemnity insurance should you try this on a real race track?