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Microsoft Shares New Initiative For Xbox Accessibility Guidelines To Better Gaming Experience For Disabled Users

Although the general market is concerned about the number of units sold per platform or the arrangement of titles that each system issues for its dedicated system, Microsoft looks to be appeasing towards a separate user base entirely. While developers illustrate its ambitions to better player experience with accessibility features, the Xbox company shares its own passion to form a grander playtime for disabled players through its own means.

Following the release of the Xbox Adaptive Controller in early 2019, Microsoft formed an internal prospect which ensures player affected by certain ailments are ensured the same priority as general players: Xbox Accessibility Guidelines. And now entering 2021, the firm is looking to further expand this pursuit with a new initiative for the specific group of players.

In a new Xbox Wire post, Microsoft elaborates on a new set of improvements that the company will be highlighting moving forward which in terms will greatly benefit players who require additional support to play video games properly.

Once all of the updated Xbox Accessibility Guidelines were ready to go, the team realized that it could take further steps to ensure that developers have a way to find out whether or not their games were actually reaching the level of accessibility they targeted.

With that in mind, the Game Reliability Engineering team and the Gaming Accessibility Team have collaborated to put together an industry-first, platform-provided game accessibility testing program that can validate games using the Xbox Accessibility Guidelines. 

Brannon Zahand, Senior Gaming Accessibility Program Manager

The overall goal for the new threshold for Xbox Accessibility Guidelines is aimed for developers to greatly understand how its input can drastically alter the experience for players that face disabilities to be a positive one. Already, it is told that the initiative faces plenty of positive feedback and many development studios contacting Microsoft on how it can get involved.

Previously, Microsoft did go on to comment on how it will further advance its efforts with the Xbox Adaptive Controller entering the new year. In November, Microsoft kindles at the idea of more features and other ventures for players that use the controller daily. You can read the full report by heading here.

What do you think Microsoft should pursue in bettering the player experience for disabled users?

Source: Xbox Wire

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