For the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we’re celebrating the players and researchers who push game accessibility forward and sharing what studios can learn from them.

Accessibility isn’t “nice-to-have,” it’s a crucial piece of the player experience

Games are wonderful because they’re for everyone (at least, they should be). With 1 in 5 gamers having a disability, accessibility isn’t about optimizing for a small minority. And that doesn’t even include the many players who don’t identify as disabled but still benefit from accessibility features. 

Too often, players with disabilities encounter barriers long before they get to have fun: unreadable text, unclear UI, high motor demands, audio-only cues, complex onboarding, or mechanics that require speed and precision that might be challenging for some players.

Accessible design can help with these changes, but only when players with disabilities are included early enough to shape the game.

Our Senior Research and Accessibility Lead Joe, whose story you can read in our blog, reinforces an important point: accessibility isn’t a checklist, it’s a mindset, and a process that asks teams to pay attention to real lived experiences of all players.

What accessibility research uncovers

Studios sometimes expect accessibility issues to be obvious, but many are subtle or completely invisible until you hear directly from players with disabilities.

Expert-led accessibility reviews and training uncover challenges like:

Text and UI barriers

Players may struggle with font size, contrast, UI density, or cognitive overload.

Control and motor challenges

Some interactions require two-handed play, sustained pressure, or timed precision that certain players can’t comfortably perform.

Audio accessibility gaps

Important information may rely solely on sound, without alternative cues.

Visual processing barriers

Fast motion, particle effects, color-dependent information, and unclear tutorials can cause discomfort or confusion.

UX friction you’d never see internally

Steps that feel “easy” to a team who knows the game intimately can potentially create blockers for players with disabilities.

These insights don’t only help players with disabilities. They make games more usable for everyone. Accessible design is simply good design.

The impact of expert guidance

Joe and his team work with studios to help them understand how players with disabilities navigate games, what barriers appear during real gameplay situations, and how teams can build accessibility into their thinking from the start.

Through consultations, audits, and training sessions, teams learn how to:

• Spot common accessibility blockers
  
  
• Evaluate UX decisions through an inclusive design lens
  
  
• Build internal confidence around accessible design
  
  
• Structure development workflows that consider accessibility earlier
  
  
• Understand accessibility through the lens of lived experience

His work highlights something essential: players with disabilities are not edge cases. They are part of your audience, and listening to them leads to better, more thoughtful design.

Why studios invest in accessibility expertise

Beyond doing the right thing, accessibility awareness and training offer long-term value:

• Better onboarding and retention for all players
  
  
• Reduced production cost through earlier issue detection
  
  
• Better alignment with platform accessibility guidelines
  
  
• A more inclusive design culture within teams
  
  
• A larger potential audience that feels welcomed, not excluded
  
  
• A stronger reputation among players and peers

Teams that understand accessibility build better experiences for every player.

Our commitment on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Today, we want to celebrate the players with disabilities who push game accessibility forward and the experts, like Joe, who help studios learn from them.

Their insights don’t only highlight problems. They inspire better design, better thinking, and more inclusive player experiences.

Accessible games can only happen when studios commit to listening, learning, and improving, and we’re proud to support that work.

Want support with accessibility in your game?

From accessibility playtesting to team training and expert guidance, we can help your studio start building more inclusive experiences from day one.