Tag: Accessibility
Feature 'Overjoyed' Is A Switch-Compatible, One-Finger Accessibility App That's Available Now
Addressing Nintendo's "random" approach to accessibility
We can all agree that Nintendo isn't exactly a games industry forerunner in terms of accessibility. The lack of being able to quickly and easily remap buttons in many Nintendo first-party games is just a start, but there are often mechanics that require multiple button prompts, or simple...
Soapbox Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Straight Up Fails In Just One Respect: Accessibility
In 2023, we should expect better from Nintendo
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been a critical and commercial success, garnering glowing reviews across the board (including from this her
Say hello to an in-depth accessibility upgrade
For some time now we've been considering how best to integrate meaningful and consistent accessibility information for the games we cover on Nintendo Life and across the Hookshot network. Today we're pleased to announce that we've partnered with Family Gaming to bring in-depth accessibility information...
Soapbox As A Colour Blind Gamer, I Can Now Finally Beat Metroid Prime
Prime-ary colours
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Rory how the recent release of Metroid Prime Remastered has enabled him to settle an old score. Prime endboss spoilers inbound... I know. I was a handsome bugger. It’s always...
Video This Joy-Con Accessory Lets You Play Switch With Only One Hand
First batch now on sale
The Nintendo Switch has proven to be groundbreaking on a number of levels, but, as with many consoles, accessibility has continued to be one of the main features on which it can improve. A 2017 console evaluation by The Able Gamers Charity confirmed just this, commenting on the Switch's 'zero accessibility features' at...
News Dead Cells' Accessibility-Focused Update Adds Assist Mode, Difficulty Options, And More
Called 'Breaking Barriers'
Motion Twin and Evil Empire's fantastic roguelike Dead Cells has received another new update as of yesterday, and it's a pretty important one too. The studios have partnered with AbleGamers and members of the Dead Cells community to help bring in tons of new accessibility features to the game. A spokesperson for Evil...
Feature Just How Accessible Are Switch Games Like Xenoblade, Pokémon, And Mario Odyssey?
Seven Switch games from an accessibility perspective
When it comes to accessibility features in video games, things have improved somewhat in recent years, with many developers now consciously providing elementary options that tweak the gameplay experience to better suit players of different abilities and with specific impairments. There remains...
Feature How Audio Description Can Make Trailers And Video Gaming More Accessible
We chatted to AD experts, Descriptive Video Works
Accessibility in games is an important topic that has been receiving a lot more well-deserved attention over the past few years, in large part thanks to accessibility advocates and large companies taking up the mantle. But we still have a long way to go — as recent discussions over the difficulty...
Feature 5 Accessibility Features That Every Game Should Have
These options should really be industry standard by now
When it comes to accessibility features in video games, things have improved somewhat in recent years, with many developers now consciously providing elementary options that tweak the gameplay experience to better suit players of different abilities and with specific impairments. There remains...
Feature The Man Making Brand New NES Games In 2021
Alastair Low explains 8-bit love and how he's making games more dyslexia-friendly
Alastair Low hadn’t even been born when the NES was originally released in the UK. But he spent much of his childhood joyously playing on Nintendo’s 8-bit wonder machine after picking one up for a pittance at a car boot sale in the mid-1990s. “I remember getting...
Feature Steven Spohn On Strides In Accessibility For Gaming, And Nintendo's Room For Improvement
"Back in the day Nintendo was at the forefront of accessibility, at some point they just stopped"
Earlier this year Steven Spohn hit an incredible fundraising landmark prior to his 40th Birthday; in forming alliances with a lot of creators and gamers globally, along with some welcome support from influential figures, he raised over one million...
Feature How Accessible Are Zelda, Pokémon And Animal Crossing For Blind Gamers?
Top Nintendo Switch games evaluated for players with vision loss
When it comes to accessibility options in video games, some companies have been quicker than others to acknowledge the need and introduce basic features into their games. While progress has been made over the past few years, there's still much room for improvement and even the most...
News Apex Legends' Ping System Now 'Patent-Free' As EA Announces Accessibility Pledge
Free access to five patents now available to encourage "innovation"
Electronic Arts has announced a Patent Pledge that gives its competitors completely free access to its current accessibility-related technology and innovations without the threat of legal action. Which is nice! The publisher hopes that the pledge, which it says is the first of its...
News The Hori Flex Assistive Controller For Switch Is Now Available In The US
And with a nice price reduction, too
Last year peripheral manufacturer HORI announced it was producing an accessibility controller for Nintendo Switch, the HORI Flex, and back in June we were lucky enough to try out the multifuncional Flex controller and some accessories courtesy of UK distributors
News It Appears This Mario Party Superstars Minigame Has Been Adapted For Accessibility
You love to see it
Mario Party Superstars looks set to revamp some of our favourite boards and minigames from the series' history – and early footage suggests that it's going to look fantastic – but here's something even better. Mushroom Mix-Up, a minigame that Nintendo 64 owners might remember from the very first Mario Party, is making a grand...
Video Meet The Hori Flex, A Nintendo Switch Controller Built With Accessibility In Mind
Flex-ible, indeed
UK distribution for the HORI Flex — the Japanese accessories manufacturer's accessibility-focused controller — finally began last week and we were fortunate enough to get our hands on a sample of this rather remarkable new device. This little controller (well, quite sizeable, actually) has been available in Japan since last...
Soapbox This Accessibility App For Animal Crossing: New Horizons Shows How Companies Must Do Better
Gamer Biggy is able to play the game with the use of a touchscreen
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. Today, Kate asks why the games industry is still so far behind in accessibility features. It's something you never have to think...
News Disability Advocates Discuss Accessibility In Games In This New BBC Audio Documentary
"This is why we do what we do."
In "Unplayable: Disability and the Gaming Revolution", a BBC audio documentary released on 28th January, 2021, Steve Saylor, a blind gamer, talks about seeing the NES on a high shelf in a game store one day while shopping with his mum. He remembers getting it in his hands and thinking, "this is the coolest thing...
News Hori Releases Accessibility Controller For The Nintendo Switch
Everyone can play
Following in the footsteps of Microsoft's Xbox Adaptive controller, Japanese accessory manufacturer Hori has released its very own accessibility controller designed for the Nintendo Switch. Introducing the Nintendo licensed "HORI Flex" Switch and joystick interface. As you can see, it's got all sorts of inputs, and can be wired to...
And a touch of fatherly magic
Time and time again, Microsoft's Adaptive Controller has proven to be a fantastic bit of kit. We've seen a number of cases where it has given people the chance to play their favourite games when they otherwise wouldn't have been able to, and this particular example is sure to lift up your gloomy Monday. Rory Steel has...
Editorial Accessibility Through Optional 'Invincibility' Buffs Can Only Be a Positive for Nintendo
Let's try to be Super Guides and spread the gaming bug
So, Star Fox Zero will not only have a co-op mode that'll allow less experienced players to play as a gunner and pew-pew stuff through the GamePad, but also a friendly option where gamers will have an invincible Arwing and simply fly through a level regardless of their performance. In the very...