Microsoft is looking to drive accessibility in the gaming industry with their new controller patent, which looks to change their standard Xbox controller by adding a Braille display for vision impaired gamers and paddles for Braille input. This is a big leap towards making gaming accessible to all players—not just those who can hold and manipulate the console’s standard controllers.
On the front, the controller looks like a standard Xbox gamepad, but technical illustrations in the patent filing reveal upgrades that include a bump matrix display, capable of displaying braille characters, that’s positioned where a gamer’s fingers could easily reach. It could lead to the development of new games that are specifically designed for the visually impaired.
With 48.9 million people in the US reported as having disabilities, of which 24.1 million are reported to be severe disability, it’s clear Microsoft is taking a strong stance of driving inclusivity within the gaming industry.
With the 2020 Paralympics just around the corner, brands will soon start to plan and develop disability-inclusive campaigns. However, as brands, we need to do better at connecting Disability with diversity and inclusion efforts, not just during the Paralympics.
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