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Xbox Unveils Four New Accessibility Offerings

Xbox Unveils Four New Accessibility Offerings - Xbox Wire

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/08/21/xbox-accessibility-adaptive-joystick-thumbstick-toppers/

We’re excited to share that three new accessibility devices and 3D printable files for adaptive thumbstick toppers will join our current lineup, giving players even more accessibility options to support their gameplay with Xbox.

Xbox Unveils Four New Accessibility Offerings - Xbox Wire

New additions:

Xbox Adaptive Joystick
3D Printable Files for Adaptive Thumbstick Toppers
8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller
ByoWave Proteus Controller
New Toggle Hold Feature
Accessible Packaging for Xbox Adaptive Joystick and New Xbox Series X|S Console Options

11 comments

BertramDitore

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I don’t have an Xbox, but I’m thrilled any time companies add good customizable accessibility options. It’s good for folks who really need it, but also usually good for those of us who just like to customize everything as much as possible. Everybody wins.

Essence_of_Meh

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Same here. While I'm very critical of Microsoft and tend to avoid a lot of things they're involved in their continuous work on improving accessibility is one thing I've been really impressed with. I hope this approach will become more and more prevalent in both the gaming industry and in general as well.

SnotFlickerman

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Many of these are also compatible with Windows 10 and up.

While it totally kicks ass that they release these through their Xbox branding, it's weird that they don't make a bigger deal how this also makes PC gaming more accessible as well.

Although to be fair, they may have better support for these controllers via the Xbox app/Microsoft Store, and maybe they don't hype it as much because there isn't great Steam support perhaps?

Essence_of_Meh

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I haven't used Windows in a while now so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong but it always felt like PCs were a bit of an afterthought for Microsoft. I know it changed somehow but have no idea how much so my random guess would be: it's simply be a case of "lets market these with our main gaming product: consoles".

Carighan

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Not really, far as I can tell. At least not for Microsoft the company and Microsoft the gaming team.

Only for the marketing, really. They never explicitly push it. But I feel this might just be because they feel they don't have to, they're already the default, and "PC" is their native environment everyone associates them with.

Essence_of_Meh

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Maybe so. Also, I reread the article and there are more mentions of PC than I initially thought. I just kind of glanced over them between all the talk about Xbox, a term that's also used in regards to Windows gaming (something I forgot when I posted this).

Carighan

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Especially the adaptive joystick is a really great idea. What with being able to do the design with them but then have it 3D printed elsewhere.

DerArzt

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One of the few things that I like going on over at MS.

MrScottyTay

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Can the joystick work without the adaptive controller. Would love something like that

ReeSilva

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Release a product that is not usable by disabled people Releases another product that costs more money but is the only way for disabled people to use the first product

Make profit

Essence_of_Meh

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They could also not do anything at all and leave those players on their own. Sure, it would be great if all of those options were available from the start but most of MS's work on accessibility wasn't developed back then. At least they can be used with PCs and should be compatible with their future consoles.