How Forza Motorsport’s Next Entry Is Introducing Innovative Visual Accessibility

ign.com:

Xbox’s accessible innovations and developments have benefited disabled players for years. The 2018 release of the Xbox Adaptive Controller, feature tags on store pages, award-winning accessibility in titles like Forza Horizon 5, and even an annual showcase highlighting the varying ways in which Xbox and its studios are incorporating accessibility into their projects have put the disabled community at the forefront of Xbox conversations.

The newest entry in the Forza Motorsport series (simply called Forza Motorsport) has already been revealed to include numerous accessibility options commonly found in most modern games like control remapping, subtitles, and varying colorblind modes and filters. And now, blind/low vision players can experience a brand-new feature set – called Blind Driving Assists – a series of audio cues that provide track and vehicle information allowing blind/low vision players to complete races.

Speaking with IGN, Turn 10 Studios developers, an accessibility consultant, and Xbox head Phil Spencer discuss the development process behind Blind Driving Assists, the importance of community involvement, and Xbox’s desire to create an inclusive and accessible industry.

Blind/low vision accessibility is still relatively sparse in video games compared to other accessibility options and design practices. Games like The Last of Us Part 1’s 2022 remake and The Last of Us Part 2, every NetherRealm Studios title since 2013, and The Vale: Shadow of the Crown are examples of games that are accessible to blind/low vision individuals within a vast industry of iconic series and genres. However, blind/low vision players still cannot reliably purchase most new games despite increased interest and awareness from the disabled