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Game accessibility guidelines

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Include assist modes such as auto-aim and assisted steering

My hands shake, don’t move very quickly so games that require constant fast reaction/unassisted aiming are v hard
Andrea Chandler, via Twitter

My 4 year old had a stroke just after she was born and her right side is not coordinated enough to hold the controller in a way that really allows her to play with us. Well, thanks to Mario Kart’s new Auto Drive feature, she can now steer with her left hand and let the game drive for her or vice versa. I’m sure this feature will be an annoyance to many, but for my daughter, who would otherwise not really be able to participate, it is the best feature ever added to a Mario Kart game.
Keith & Molly, via Reddit

Assist modes are optional settings to compensate for lack of speed or precision, allowing gamers with difficulties in these areas to take part on a level playing field. They also have strong benefits for people who are simply less proficient at the game, allowing them to still experience the same progression and enjoyment.

They can be partial, for example requiring less accuracy for aiming, or full, for example carrying out all braking and gear changes completely automatically.

An obvious area of concern is the impact that this has on competitive multi-player, giving players a way to gain an unfair competitive advantage, but this is easily addressed through matchmaking preferences.

Best practice example: Uncharted 4
Best practice example: Forza Horizon 3
Best practice example: Even The Ocean
Best practice example: Mario Kart 8
Best practice example: Dirt 3
Best practice example: Celeste

All guidelines

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Help & advice

How to work with these guidelines

FCC Chairman's Award for Advancement in Accessibility
finalist 2016, tiga games industry awards
DFA foundation best practice award, Horizon Interactive Bronze Winner, 7-128 industry & community leader

About the guidelines

A collaborative effort between a group of studios, specialists and academics, to produce a straightforward developer friendly reference for ways to avoid unnecessarily excluding players, and ensure that games are just as fun for as wide a range of people as possible.

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