ESA Launches Program to Enhance Video Game Accessibility

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today introduced the Accessible Games Initiative, a new tagging system designed to inform consumers about video game accessibility features.

Announced at the Game Developers Conference, the initiative was developed by a coalition including Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, and Ubisoft, with Amazon, Riot Games, Square Enix, and WB Games later joining. The ESA will oversee the program.

Under this initiative, participating companies will apply specific tags from a set of 24 to their games, with these tags displayed alongside game details on digital storefronts and product pages.

These tags highlight features like clear text, large subtitles, narrated menus, stick inversion, flexible save options, adjustable difficulty, and gameplay without button holds, among others.

“Millions of Americans with disabilities face challenges enjoying the connection and fun of video games,” said Stanley Pierre-Louis, ESA president and CEO. “We’re thrilled to launch the Accessible Games Initiative with industry partners, showcasing our collective commitment to making gaming more inclusive.”

The tags will be implemented gradually by individual companies and are optional. Initially, they will be available only in English, with potential updates or additional tags in the future.

Accessible Games Initiative Tags

Auditory Features

Tag

Multiple Volume Controls

Description

Adjust volume separately for different audio types.

• Modify music, speech, sound effects, background audio, text-to-speech, accessibility cues, and voice chat independently.

• Adjust all game audio simultaneously with a single control.

Tag

Mono Sound

Description

Play with mono audio output.

• Audio is delivered identically to all channels, such as both left and right headphones, creating a unified sound.

Tag

Stereo Sound

Description

Play with stereo audio output.

• Sounds indicate their left or right origin.

• No directional cues for sounds from above, below, ahead, or behind.

Tag

Surround Sound

Description

Play with surround sound audio.

• Sounds reflect their origin from any direction.

Tag

Narrated Menus

Description

Use screen readers or voice narration for menus and notifications.

• All menus are accessible via screen readers or built-in narration.

• Navigate menus sequentially with narrated updates for interactions and context changes.

Tag

Chat Speech-to-Text & Text-to-Speech*

Description

Enable text-to-speech and speech-to-text for in-game chats.

• Text chats are narrated in real time.

• Voice chats are transcribed as text in real time.

This tag includes both auditory and visual features.

Gameplay Features

Tag

Difficulty Levels

Description

Choose from multiple difficulty settings, including at least one less challenging option.

• Difficulty level differences are clearly explained.

Tag

Save Anytime

Description

Manually save progress at any point.

Exceptions:

• During saving, loading, or scenarios where saving could disrupt gameplay, such as death animations.

Input Features

Tag

Basic Input Remapping

Description

Rearrange button controls.

• Swap or adjust button controls via simple methods.

• The “Full Input Remapping” tag allows remapping all controls, not just buttons, by assigning actions to specific inputs.

Tag

Full Input Remapping

Description

Assign any game action to any control.

• Remap all controls for supported input methods, including keyboard, mouse, controllers, and on-screen virtual controllers.

• Swap controller stick functionality.

• The “Basic Input Remapping” tag covers only button control adjustments via simple methods.

Tag

Stick Inversion

Description

Adjust directional inputs like thumbsticks for up, down, left, and right movement.

• Applies to inputs like thumbsticks and flight sticks.

Tag

Playable without Button Holds

Description

Play without requiring sustained button presses.

• No digital inputs, like keys or buttons, need to be held.

• Some analog inputs, like sticks or triggers, may still require holds.

Tag

Playable without Rapid Button Presses

Description

Avoid repetitive button actions like mashing or quick-time events.

Tag

Playable with Keyboard Only

Description

Play using only a keyboard.

• No additional devices required.

Tag

Playable with Mouse Only

Description

Play using only a mouse.

• Supports adaptive tech mapped to mouse inputs.

Tag

Playable with Buttons Only

Description

Play using only digital inputs like buttons or keys.

• Controls and menus are fully navigable with buttons alone.

Tag

Playable with Touch Only

Description

Play using only touch controls.

• No non-touch inputs, like buttons or analog sticks, are required.

Tag

Playable Without Motion Controls

Description

Play without using motion-based controls.

Tag

Playable Without Touch Controls

Description

Play without using touchpads or touchscreens.

Visual Features

Tag

Chat Speech-to-Text & Text-to-Speech

Description

Enable text-to-speech and speech-to-text for in-game chats.

• Text chats are narrated in real time.

• Voice chats are transcribed as text in real time.

*This tag includes both auditory and visual features.

Tag

Clear Text

Description

Text in menus, panels, and settings is appropriately sized with adjustable contrast.

• Text size suits the device’s screen resolution and typical viewing distance.

• Fonts are minimally stylized or can be switched to simpler options, like sans serif.

• Text contrast is adjustable against all backgrounds.

(See “Large & Clear Subtitles” tag for subtitle options.)

Tag

Large Text

Description

Use large font sizes for menus, panels, and settings.

• Text size is adjustable for the device’s screen resolution and viewing distance.

(See “Large & Clear Subtitles” tag for subtitle options.)

Tag

Large & Clear Subtitles

Description

Subtitles are available for all dialogue.

• Text size is suitable for the device’s screen resolution and viewing distance.

• Subtitle background transparency is adjustable.

• Subtitles avoid overlapping critical game elements.

• Fonts are minimally stylized or can be switched to simpler options, like sans serif.

• Covers only spoken dialogue, not other audio like speaker tone or environmental sounds.

Tag

Color Alternatives

Description

Important information is not conveyed solely by color or can be adjusted.

• Uses shapes, patterns, icons, or text to convey information instead of color.

Tag

Camera Comfort

Description

Avoids or allows disabling of camera effects that may cause discomfort, such as nausea or headaches.

• Includes effects like shaking, swaying, bobbing, motion blur, camera speed, or forced narrative movement.