Gaming is a source of entertainment and connection for millions, but for many individuals with health conditions such as cybersickness, migraines, epilepsy, dizziness, nausea, misophonia, and sensory processing issues, playing can be uncomfortable, overwhelming, or even painful.
WHILE WE SPECIFICALLY CALL ON THE INDUSTRY GIANTS TO ENACT CHANGE, WE CALL ON THE GAMING INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE TO ENACT CHANGES. WHILE SOCIAL DIVERSITY HAS BEEN A MAJOR POINT OF INTEREST FOR GAMING COMPANIES, PHYSICAL DISABILITY HAS BEEN ENTIRELY NEGLECTED.
Modern games often contain flashing lights, rapid camera movements, loading spinners, beeping menus, text carets, dizzying effects, and other dynamic visuals that can trigger a range of negative symptoms. These elements, while designed to engage players, often have the opposite effect on those with specific health needs.
Health Conditions Affected by Current Game Design:
- Autism or Sensory Processing Issues: Players with sensory processing disorders often struggle with overwhelming visual and auditory stimuli, making it difficult to enjoy games.
- Cybersickness: Motion-heavy elements such as rapid screen transitions and moving cameras can cause nausea and dizziness.
- Migraines: Bright, flashing lights and intense visual effects can trigger painful headaches.
- Epilepsy: Flashing lights and rapidly changing visuals can cause seizures in those with photosensitive epilepsy.
- Misophonia/misokinesia: Sound-sensitive players are negatively affected by beeping, clicking, or other intrusive sounds within UI elements.
- ADHD: An inability to streamline processes in games, or choose paths can lead to many ADHD symptoms (including overstimulation).
We Demand the Following Changes to Improve Accessibility
- True Reduced Motion Settings
- Provide options to eliminate dynamic animations, excessive camera movements, and particle effects.
- Allow players to toggle fixed camera angles to reduce dizziness or disorientation caused by motion-heavy gameplay.
- Replace or allow users to disable loading spinners, as they are often a visual trigger for those with vestibular conditions
- Sensory-Friendly UI Design
- Provide options to adjust contrast, brightness, and saturation of UI elements to reduce visual overload.
- Design calm, simplified visual interfaces that minimize intrusive animations and flashing.
- Offer the ability to disable blinking or flashing elements, including achievement alerts and pop-up notifications, which are particularly problematic for people with photosensitive conditions or misophonia.
- Less Intrusive Sounds
- Allow users to turn off or customize beeping sounds, clicks, and other noises that may trigger misophonia or sensory sensitivities.
- Provide adjustable sound options to ensure that the audio environment is comfortable for all players, especially in text-heavy menus.
- Address Dizzying Effects
- Offer options to disable screen shakes or dynamic camera transitions that can cause dizziness or motion sickness.
- Allow for reduced motion effects in both menus and gameplay, such as slow-down or turn-off options for intense in-game movements.
These simple yet impactful changes will make gaming accessible to many individuals who currently face barriers due to their health conditions. It’s essential that game developers prioritize accessibility features, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their sensory or health needs, can enjoy gaming.
Join Us in Advocating for Change:
We call on Steam, EA, Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox to implement these essential accessibility features. Let’s make gaming a space that welcomes all players, regardless of their sensory needs or health conditions.
SIGN NOW https://www.change.org/p/demand-accessible-gaming-from-steam-ea-nintendo-playstation-and-xbox
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