When it comes to accessibility, Microsoft and Xbox lead the way, which is widely acknowledged. The American company has announced a series of updates and initiatives aimed at supporting the 429 million gamers with disabilities worldwide. These small improvements indeed enhance the daily comfort and usability of Xbox consoles, and here are the details without further delay.
A new “Accessibility” channel on the Xbox Store and Xbox.com, featuring hundreds of games and thousands of accessibility tags, enabling gamers to find their next favorite game that suits their needs even more easily.
A wireless pairing update has been introduced that no longer necessitates direct contact with the console. From the comfort of a sofa, wheelchair, or hospital bed, users can now place their console into pairing mode using an Xbox media remote, digital assistant voice command, or a paired controller to connect a new controller to their device.
Microsoft and Xbox have introduced a new “Accessibility” channel on the Xbox Store and Xbox.com, featuring hundreds of games and thousands of accessibility tags. This allows gamers to find their next preferred game more easily based on their specific needs.
An update to wireless pairing now enables gamers to put their console into pairing mode from a distance, without direct contact. This feature can be activated via an Xbox media remote, a digital assistant’s voice command, or a paired controller, allowing users to connect new controllers while seated on a sofa, wheelchair, or hospital bed.
- A new “Accessibility Settings” menu in Xbox widgets within the Game Bar, promoting a more accessible gaming experience on PC, allowing gamers to locate accessibility settings on the platform even more easily.
- A new stage for the “Xbox Accessibility Ambassador Explorer Path” program. After over 2 million quests completed since its launch in October 2022, Xbox is pleased to announce that in the coming months, the program will incorporate knowledge assessments as well as new badges to celebrate the skills acquired by accessibility ambassadors.
- The implementation of the “Playbook for Accessible Gaming Events”, a guide for managing events that includes 12 best practices Xbox has learned from disabled gamers over the years.
- A reconfiguration of keys to keyboard for Elite 2 and Adaptive Controller. In the coming months, players will be able to remap buttons on their Adaptive Xbox or Elite 2 controllers to nearly 90 keyboard keys. This will particularly enable gamers with reduced mobility to use the Xbox adaptive controller in games that only support mouse and keyboard.
