Sony has released a customizable controller kit for the PlayStation 5 designed for players with disabilities.
The Access controller features large, swappable buttons and stick caps, and players can configure the button layout to suit their needs.
The controller also sits flat on a table or wheelchair tray, making it easier to use and access all commands. It is available for preorder now and will be released on December 6 for $90.
The Access controller was designed with input from accessibility consultants, and it features several features that make it more inclusive for gamers with disabilities.
A senior technical program manager at Sony Interactive Entertainment, Alvin Daniel, said having accessible games and consoles was enough if the controllers are not accessible.
“Our PlayStation Studios have done an amazing job with each title and really pushing the boundaries as far as accessible gaming.
“The critical link in that chain is the controller,” Daniel said
The buttons are magnetic so that they can be easily swapped out for different shapes and sizes.
The controller has four expansion ports so gamers can attach additional controllers or accessories.
Sony says that the Access controller is part of its commitment to making gaming more accessible for everyone. The company has also released other accessibility features in recent years, such as the ability to customize the DualSense controller’s button layout and add subtitles and audio descriptions to games.
“As someone who’s disabled, you’re given tons of accessible equipment that feels medical; it feels like something that’s from the hospital,” said Cesar Flores, an accessibility consultant who worked alongside the Access controller team.
He says what sets this PlayStation controller apart is, “If you look closely on each of those buttons, there are tiny X’s, squares, triangles — that’s so special. That’s the difference right there because that really makes it so I feel like I’m just going to game.”
