What are the best resources for learning about online game accessibility?

1 Why accessibility matters

Accessibility is not only a moral and legal obligation, but also a business opportunity and a creative challenge. According to the World Health Organization, more than a billion people live with some form of disability, and many more experience temporary or situational impairments that can affect their gaming experience. Moreover, accessibility can benefit all players by enhancing usability, comfort, and satisfaction. For online games, accessibility can also promote social justice and diversity, as well as enable more meaningful and fun interactions among players from different backgrounds, cultures, and locations.

2 What accessibility entails

Accessibility is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather a multidimensional and dynamic concept that depends on the context, content, and user. To achieve accessibility, one must ensure perceivability, operability, understandability, and robustness of the game interface and mechanics. Additionally, it is important to address specific needs and preferences of different groups of players, such as those with visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, or emotional impairments. Some common accessibility features that can improve online games include text-to-speech and speech-to-text options for voice chat and narration; subtitles and captions for audio and video elements; adjustable font size, contrast, and color schemes for text and graphics; customizable keybindings, mouse sensitivity, and controller settings for input methods; assistive modes, difficulty levels, and tutorials for gameplay and navigation; remappable buttons, gestures, and commands for alternative controllers and devices; in-game accessibility menus and options for personalization and configuration; accessibility feedback and indicators for game events and states; as well as accessible user-generated content and moderation tools for community engagement.

3 How to learn more

When learning more about online game accessibility, there are many resources to consider. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a comprehensive and internationally recognized framework for web accessibility, including online games. The Game Accessibility Guidelines (GAG) offer a practical and game-specific set of recommendations for various aspects of game accessibility. The Includification website features a detailed and interactive guide for implementing accessibility features in games, with examples and best practices. The AbleGamers Charity is a nonprofit organization that advocates for and supports gamers with disabilities, while the IGDA Game Accessibility SIG is a special interest group within the International Game Developers Association that raises awareness and shares knowledge about game accessibility. Additionally, the Game Accessibility Conference (GAConf) is an annual event that brings together game developers, accessibility specialists, academics, and gamers to discuss and showcase the latest trends and innovations in game accessibility.