At the Accessibility Showcase event held recently, Microsoft emphasized that Xbox players can more easily find accessibility information for games. Games in the Microsoft Store will be equipped with accessibility labels, so players with disabilities can ensure that the game has the features they need before purchasing or downloading the game. These tags will appear in stores of members of the Xbox Accessible Insider Alliance (XAIL) starting today, and will eventually be open to all Xbox users.
These tags solve a problem commonly expressed by disabled players: they often need to do their own research to determine which games they can play. Listing certain features in the store can integrate frustrating information, especially if it is not available on the developer’s website or in the reviews. Publishers will also be able to link to other information from the store. In addition to the Microsoft Store, Xbox says they will also begin to appear on Xbox.com, the Xbox app on PC, and the Xbox Game Pass app in the next few months.
Xbox said it plans to collect feedback from XAIL members in the next month, and then expand the availability of the label. Part of the fine-tuning of the labels involves determining the specific criteria that the game needs to meet in order to be labeled for each function – for example, if the game’s subtitles cannot be resized, it does not meet the criteria for subtitle option tags. The tag list includes 20 functions, such as game menu explanation, input remapping, and single-stroke game. In the future, more functions may be added based on player feedback.
Xbox Accessibility Director Anita Mortaloni said she hopes that the standard of the label will encourage more developers to build strong accessibility features in their games. She said: We see this as an opportunity to improve the industry. As we continue in this journey, more and more games will receive [tags], hoping to inspire developers to pay attention to these standards and Consider these when designing their games.
There is also a new Accessibility Spotlight section in the store, which is divided into different categories based on the accessibility features (such as audio or video) the game has. According to Xbox, in the coming months, search results will be able to be filtered by function. Xbox also announced several other features and said it will launch soon:
- Quick settings, allowing people to turn on or off accessibility features without leaving the game or application.
- The global color filter on Xbox Series S|X allows color-blind people to customize the color display in games, applications, and menus.
- Night mode, adjustable filters and brightness, dimming the lights of the controller and power button, and scheduling options.
- A free game accessibility basic course launched for developers at the Microsoft Learning Center in late October.
