The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has unveiled the Accessible Games Initiative at the Game Developers Conference, a groundbreaking move to enhance video game accessibility. This initiative, spearheaded by industry giants such as Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and Ubisoft, and further supported by Amazon, Riot Games, Square Enix, and WB Games, introduces a standardized "tag" system to inform consumers about the accessibility features of video games.

The system involves 24 specific tags that will be displayed on digital storefronts and product pages, detailing features like "clear text," "large and clear subtitles," "narrated menus," "stick inversion," "save anytime," "difficulty levels," and "playable without button holds." This initiative aims to make gaming more inclusive, addressing the needs of the tens of millions of Americans with disabilities who often face barriers in enjoying video games.

Stanley Pierre-Louis, the ESA's president and CEO, emphasized the significance 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 be gradual and on a company-by-company basis, initially available only in English. The ESA also mentioned that the list of tags could evolve, with potential additions or modifications to better serve the gaming community's needs.

Accessible Games Initiative Tags

Auditory Features

Tag: Multiple Volume Controls

Description: Separate volume controls are available for different types of sounds, such as music, speech, sound effects, background audio, text-to-speech audio, accessibility audio cues, and voice chat. You can also adjust all game sounds at once using a single volume control.

Tag: Mono Sound

Description: This feature allows you to play with mono audio, where the same sound is sent to all channels, effectively providing a single, combined audio channel.

Tag: Stereo Sound

Description: Play with stereo audio, where sounds indicate their left or right origin, but not their vertical or depth position.

Tag: Surround Sound

Description: Enjoy surround sound, where sounds communicate their direction, including any direction around you.

Tag: Narrated Menus

Description: Use screen readers or voice narration for navigating menus and receiving notifications. You can move through menus one item at a time, with all interactions and context changes announced through narration.

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

Description: Utilize text-to-speech and speech-to-text for in-game chats. Text chats can be narrated aloud in real-time, and voice chats can be converted to text transcripts.

Gameplay Features

Tag: Difficulty Levels

Description: Choose from multiple difficulty options, including at least one that reduces challenge intensity. Descriptions of the differences between levels are provided.

Tag: Save Anytime

Description: Manually save your progress at any time, except during game-saving or loading, or when it could lead to game-breaking scenarios or blocked progress.

Input Features

Tag: Basic Input Remapping

Description: Rearrange button controls by swapping or other methods. Note that "Full Input Remapping" allows for remapping all game controls across all supported input methods.

Tag: Full Input Remapping

Description: Assign any game action to any control across all supported input methods, including keyboard, mouse, controllers, and virtual on-screen controllers. You can also swap controller stick functionality.

Tag: Stick Inversion

Description: Adjust how directional inputs like thumbsticks affect game movement in vertical and horizontal directions.

Tag: Playable without Button Holds

Description: Play the game without needing to hold down buttons, though some analog inputs might still require holding.

Tag: Playable without Rapid Button Presses

Description: Avoid repetitive button actions like button mashing and quick-time events.

Tag: Playable with Keyboard Only

Description: Play the game using only a keyboard, without any other devices.

Tag: Playable with Mouse Only

Description: Play using only a mouse, including with adaptive technology that maps to mouse inputs.

Tag: Playable with Buttons Only

Description: Use only digital inputs like buttons or keys to control the game and menus, where the amount of pressure doesn't affect the controls.

Tag: Playable with Touch Only

Description: Play using only touch controls, without the need for any non-touch controls.

Tag: Playable Without Motion Controls

Description: Play the game without using motion controls.

Tag: Playable Without Touch Controls

Description: Play without using touchpads or touchscreens.

Visual Features

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

Description: Convert text chats to speech and voice chats to text in real-time for in-game communication.

Tag: Clear Text

Description: Text in menus, control panels, and settings is of a reasonable size and can be adjusted for contrast. Font options are less stylized or adjustable.

Tag: Large Text

Description: Increase the font size for text in menus, control panels, and settings to a large size relative to the screen.

Tag: Large & Clear Subtitles

Description: Subtitles for all dialogue are available, with adjustable size, background transparency, and font style. Subtitles do not overlap with important game elements.

Tag: Color Alternatives

Description: Important information is not communicated solely through color, or color can be adjusted. Alternative methods like shape, pattern, icons, or text are used.

Tag: Camera Comfort

Description: Adjust or turn off camera effects like shaking, swaying, bobbing, motion blur, and forced narrative-based movement to prevent discomfort or harm.