Grant Stoner
Culture
Dec 28, 2022 8:00 AM
How Indie Studios Are Pioneering Accessible Game Design
Smaller shops prove that you don't need a AAA budget to create games for everyone.
TunicCourtesy of Finji
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In recent years, it hasn’t been uncommon to find an array of accessible features and design practices inside the newest game releases. In 2022 alone, the industry celebrated God of War Ragnarök’s approximate 70 accessibility options, The Last of Us Part I’s revolutionary audio descriptive cutscenes, and Forza Horizon 5’s American and British sign language interpreters. Accessibility is becoming the norm, but not just for AAA studios. Game developers in the indie space are also striving to create entertaining and accessible experiences for disabled players.
While some developers complain about the cost and time that accessibility features require, smaller teams are already proving that even without AAA-studio resources, accessibility can and should be an integral aspect for every title.
Publisher and developer Whitethorn Games is an old hand at building accessible games and working with other studios to build accessibility into their titles. Britt Dye, usability and accessibility specialist at Whitethorn, understands the complexities of doing just that. Despite lacking the size and funding of major studios, Dye utilizes resources freely [...]