This year's highly anticipated Game Awards is set to take place shortly, on Thursday, December 12, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The Game Awards, as described on their website, aim to "recognize those who enhance the well-being of the gaming community and amplify the voices representing the future of the medium." It is a grand celebration of "creative and technical excellence in the global video game industry."

Innovation in Accessibility: A Spotlight on Gaming

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - Paving the Way for Accessibility

In recent weeks, the Call of Duty development team has been actively sharing details about the game's accessibility features. They understand that making the game accessible enables more players to jump in and enjoy the action. This has always been a top priority for them. Nearly half of all players utilize accessibility settings, and the new Call of Duty incorporates remarkable features like a high contrast mode, arachnophobia settings, and an asymmetrical hearing compensation mode. This allows users with hearing loss to create a personalized audio profile and adjust settings for each ear. There is even a "Reduce Tinnitus Sound" option. Additionally, Call of Duty seamlessly supports accessibility-oriented peripherals such as the highly acclaimed Xbox Adaptive Controller and Sony Access Controller right out of the box.

Diablo IV: Inclusivity for Players with Disabilities

Blizzard also made a significant impact with its blog post in late October, sharing information about Diablo IV's inclusiveness for players with disabilities. Accessibility has long been one of their top priorities, and they have collaborated closely with the disability community to discuss, iterate, and test features. The result is that Diablo IV is open to a legion of new players. As Drew McCrory, who leads Activision Blizzard's accessibility design for Diablo IV, stated in a post, "As developers, we want as many players as possible to experience our game. While we designed these features with the blind and low vision community in mind, we've seen that each release showcases the power of accessibility in bringing our games to a wider audience. We're serving both those with disabilities and new players as they learn to navigate the world of Sanctuary." The game's accessibility features include an auto-pin feature for maps, audio navigation assistance, and a compass. When used in combination with the auto-pin functionality, guidance is enhanced, and the color of the arrow can be customized to meet individual needs, ensuring it is clearly visible during intense battles against the denizens of hell.I had the opportunity to interview McCrory about Diablo IV in August 2023, and it was truly enlightening to hear about their dedication to making the game accessible for all.