Media Molecule, the developer of Dreams and LittleBigPlanet, has announced a new initiative to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of its future games. The Accessibility Champions Program (ACP) is a team of in-studio experts who will help ensure that accessibility is “at the heart of our work”.
What is the Accessibility Champions Program?
The ACP is a group of Media Molecule employees who have volunteered to become accessibility advocates and consultants for the studio. They will work closely with the design, development, and testing teams to provide feedback, guidance, and best practices on how to make games more accessible for all players.
The ACP will also collaborate with external accessibility experts, organizations, and communities to learn from their experiences and perspectives. They will also share their own learnings and challenges with the wider industry and the public.
The ACP was inspired by the feedback and stories of players who have enjoyed Media Molecule’s games, especially Dreams, which allows users to create and share their own games, art, and music. The studio said that it was “amazed and humbled” by the creativity and diversity of the Dreams community, and wanted to “establish accessibility as an essential part of our development process, so our projects can be enjoyed by anyone”.
Why is accessibility important for games?
Accessibility is the practice of designing and developing games that can be played by as many people as possible, regardless of their abilities, preferences, or circumstances. Accessibility can include features such as adjustable controls, subtitles, colorblind modes, difficulty options, and more.
Accessibility is important for games because it can enhance the gaming experience for everyone, not just for people with disabilities. It can also expand the potential audience and reach of games, and foster a more inclusive and respectful gaming culture.
According to the AbleGamers Foundation, a non-profit organization that advocates for accessibility in games, there are over 46 million gamers with disabilities in the United States alone, and over one billion people with disabilities worldwide. Many of these gamers face barriers and challenges when playing games, such as inaccessible hardware, software, or content.
The game industry has made significant progress in recent years in improving the accessibility and representation of games, thanks to the efforts of developers, publishers, platforms, organizations, and players. However, there is still room for improvement and innovation, as accessibility is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a continuous and evolving process.
What are Media Molecule’s plans for the future?
Media Molecule said that the ACP is part of its long-term vision and commitment to make games that are “fun, creative, and accessible for everyone”. The studio said that it will continue to support and update Dreams, which has received several accessibility features and improvements since its launch in 2020.
The studio also teased that it is working on a new project, which will be the first to benefit from the ACP’s input and expertise. The studio did not reveal any details about the project, but said that it will share more information “when the time is right”.
Media Molecule is not the only studio that is focusing on accessibility for its future games. Other studios, such as Naughty Dog, Insomniac Games, and Ubisoft, have also implemented extensive accessibility options and features in their recent games, such as The Last of Us Part II, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Additionally, platforms such as PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo have also introduced accessibility-focused hardware and software, such as the PlayStation Access controller, the Xbox Adaptive Controller, and the Nintendo Switch’s accessibility settings.
Media Molecule said that it hopes that the ACP will inspire and encourage other developers and studios to adopt and embrace accessibility in their games, and to join the “growing accessibility movement” in the game industry.
