Video games should be for everyone. Whether it's players seeing themselves represented for the first time or equipment that lets gamers with a variety of needs participate in the same way as others, gaming shouldn't have barriers in place that bars entry to anyone. Unfortunately, that's not always been the case, and in the past, video games have been predominantly marketed towards and made for a select few rather than a diverse majority. Thankfully, companies are taking steps to rectify this, with products like PlayStation's new accessible controller. Sony's latest piece of equipment certainly has exciting possibilities, and it shouldn't be an anomaly.
Competitors like Xbox have also created Adaptive Controllers and products to help as many people as possible access gaming, with the Adaptive Controller featuring custom button mapping and various accessibility settings. Games themselves have also followed suit, with tiles like Pentiment making its gorgeous illuminated manuscripts easier to read with customizable fonts and different visual representations. Thankfully, accessibility in gaming is a growing market, and even though there's still a long way to go, at least leading companies like Sony are continuing to open doors.
Introducing The New Accessible Controller For PlayStation 5
For those that have no issues using traditional controllers, the idea that not everyone can effectively use them might not have crossed their mind. But the truth is that even if games themselves have great accessibility features, not everyone can experience them if they can't manipulate the controller in a comfortable or practical way. However, Sony has demonstrated its commitment to improving the accessibility of its consoles with the latest PlayStation 5 controller, which it has called Project Leonardo.
Instead of a basic controller, Project Leonardo is a "highly customizable controller kit" that should help "many players with disabilities play games more easily, more comfortably, and for longer periods." Players will be able to completely customize the positioning of the joysticks and the layout of the buttons to best suit their preferences and needs, and the kit has also been designed to perfectly integrate with PlayStation 5's hardware and software. There are also ports that will allow gamers to connect third-party accessories as well for even further customization.
How Project Leonardo Opens Up PlayStation's Possibilities
Project Leonardo is currently still in development and Sony has said that it is in the process of gathering feedback from the gaming community about how the controller kit can be improved. In addition to hopefully widening the pool of players that can comfortably enjoy PlayStation's upcoming games, one of the most important parts of Project Leonardo's development is that accessibility experts were consulted and Sony worked with both the wider community and organizations like AbleGamers, SpecialEffect, and Stack Up. Too often, accessibility features and products are developed without proper consultation with individuals or organizations which will benefit most from them, and this is itself another prevalent form of exclusion.
PlayStation's openness regarding feedback and its apparent collaborative approach to developing Project Leonardo are both positive signs that the gaming community is willing to adapt. When larger companies like Sony and Xbox are demonstrably invested in accessibility, it sends a message to the world of video games in general that this is an important issue that deserves attention and investment. There are still steps to take, as Project Leonardo doesn't currently have any native support for older consoles like PlayStation 4 or for PC, but the reveal of the upcoming controller kit is definitely something to get excited about considering what it represents for the future of gaming.