How the Xbox Adaptive Controller Helps Gamers With Disabilities
Playing a video game is an escape for many people. It can be someone’s hobby or even someone’s passion. It’s such an important part of people’s lives, and it should be accessible to as many individuals as possible.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t always the case. Until the release of the Xbox Adaptive Controller, people with limited motor control had to find other ways around a standard controller, purchase expensive third-party accessibility tools, or even give up gaming altogether. The Xbox Adaptive Controller was able to transform gaming for many individuals with disabilities and, in some cases, even bring their passion back.
What Is the Xbox Adaptive Controller?
The Xbox Adaptive Controller is an accessibility device released by Microsoft in 2018 for PC and the Xbox family of consoles. It is specifically designed to make gaming easier and more comfortable for gamers with disabilities.
Not everyone can navigate their way around a standard controller. They call for a tight grip and have small clusters of buttons that require precise movements to control correctly. This is just not possible for many gamers out there, and the limitations of a regular controller made gaming for long periods uncomfortable or even impossible for some.
Microsoft’s goal when developing and releasing the Xbox Adaptive Controller was to create a device that was easier to navigate for people and that broke down the barriers that regular controllers pose to those who are unable to hold or control them comfortably.
How Does the Xbox Adaptive Controller Make Gaming More Accessible?
The Xbox Adaptive Controller has many different features that make gaming easier for those with disabilities. Namely, its revolutionary design, its customizable and flexible button layout, and its ability to work seamlessly with other accessibility tools that Microsoft already had to offer.
Microsoft worked hand-in-hand with incredible organizations such as AbleGamers, The Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Special Effect, and more to collaborate on the design and functionality of the controller. This allowed it to gain unique insight into the needs of gamers so they could create a more adaptable design that would be practical for a majority of users.
The Xbox Adaptive Controller Features a More Accessible and Customizable Button Layout
Unlike traditional controllers that often have very small buttons that are extremely close together, the Xbox Adaptive Controller’s button layout is far more accessible. Both the D-pad and the two buttons on the face of the device are very large, especially when compared to the tiny A and B buttons of a regular controller. This makes them easier to both see and control.
But if you’re playing anything other than Snake or Tetris, you are going to need more buttons than just A, B, and a D-pad. This is where the customization of the Xbox Adaptive Controller really comes into play. Along the back of the controller, there are 3.5 mm AUX ports and USB ports that correspond to any or all of the other buttons you would need on a controller, plus extras.
Almost any other accessibility device can be plugged into these ports to act as the corresponding button. Devices like Buddy Buttons, joysticks, and even foot pedals can be fluidly connected to the device and placed anywhere that is most comfortable for the user. No two individuals are the same, and similarly, no two Xbox Adaptive Controller layouts will be the same either. Each user has the ability to create an Xbox Adaptive Controller puzzle to suit their requirements.
The Xbox Adaptive Controller does require other devices to fully access all the available button inputs, which can all add to the price. But since it is compatible with most other brands and devices, gamers can use any tools that they may already have to complete their controller setup.
The Xbox Adaptive Controller Has a Tabletop Design
The hardest hurdle to overcome for someone with limited motor control trying to use a traditional controller is its shape. The Xbox Adaptive Controller breaks down this barrier completely with its flat design.
Instead of gripping and constantly holding the controller up to play, gamers can lay it down on a table in front of them. Taking the controller out of the gamer’s hands and allowing it to rest on a flat surface is a game changer for many people and is one of the most accessible and revolutionary features of the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
A flat design is a simple yet effective accessibility feature that PlayStation also took inspiration from when developing its own device, the Project Leonardo controller. TheProject Leonardo controller also aims to make gaming more accessiblefor more people so everyone has the ability to experience the joys of gaming.
But just like holding a controller isn’t going to work for everyone, neither will laying it flat on a tabletop. In those cases, the Xbox Adaptive Controller also comes with screws that allow it to be attached to AMPS-compatible mounts or tripod mounts for even more flexibility.
The Xbox Adaptive Controller Works in Tandem With Microsoft’s Other Accessibility Tools
Microsoft hasn’t just been working on developing unique and creative devices to make gaming more accessible. It has also been creative software options to make gaming a smoother experience for many.
All of these software tools, of course, work hand-in-hand with the Xbox Adaptive Controller. One of the most valuable of these accessibility tools is Co-Pilot mode. Co-Pilot is a feature that allows more than one controller to be connected at once. Connecting multiple controllers to a console isn’t uncommon, but Co-Pilot allows those controllers to behave as one.
For example, if you have more mobility on one side of your body than the other, you can use both an Xbox Wireless Controller and the Xbox Adaptive Controller at the same time. You can also give the second controller to another friend or family member to get more assistance while gaming.
All the buttons are also fully remappable via the Xbox Accessories App on an Xbox console or Windows. Remappable buttons are one of the few accessibility options that have become commonplace for gaming consoles, andremapping the buttons on your Nintendo Switch controllerandremapping your DualSense controllerhave been possible for quite some time now.
But one quality-of-life improvement the Xbox Adaptive Controller features is the ability to create profiles for these button layouts. This allows gamers to create different button sequences and save them on up to three different profiles. They can then be fluidly switched between on the fly by pressing the profile button on the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
The Xbox Adaptive Controller Helps Make Gaming More Accessible
Rather than being designed for a specific type of person, the Xbox Adaptive Controller celebrates the fact that no two individuals are the same. It is extremely customizable both in terms of software and hardware, so users can create a gaming experience that is just as unique as they are.
The Xbox Adaptive Controller was the first accessibility device created by a first-party company since the 80s and has ignited the interests of others, such as Sony, to also make gaming more accessible. Awareness is the first step to having more accessibility devices available for major consoles, and that is something that the Xbox Adaptive Controller is able to bring into the mainstream gaming market.
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