The Super Bowl provides companies with an opportunity to have their voices heard and their products seen by millions of people in one night. Microsoft took full advantage of this visibility by releasing a commercial for their newest product – the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
ID: The Xbox Adaptive Controller. A sleek rectangular controller, white with two large black circles and a black d-pad. The top of the controller features grooves that identify the various output jacks on the back.
This adaptive controller, which was three years in the making, is the most recent step towards making video games more accessible. Made for gamers with limited mobility, the Xbox Adaptive Controller is an 11” long, 6” wide rectangle that features 19 3.5mm ports along the back that allow people with disabilities to plug in their existing adaptive controllers. The controller also features two USB ports on either side to plug in external joysticks as well as grooves above each port that represent all of the buttons on a traditional Xbox controller, removing the need for players to look on the back of the controller in order to change the input accessory. The controller also has wireless and bluetooth functions as well as a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 25 hours (power adapter sold separately).
Gamers can unplug controllers without pausing the game, which allows them to change the configuration of their accessories as they go. Rounded edges allow players to comfortably rest their hands on the controller as they play, and the small size and angled design allow it to rest in a player’s lap or be adapted for those who play with their feet. There are also three options for mounting on the back of the controller. Players can also remap the buttons with the Xbox Accessories App.
Microsoft now has a “Plug and play” option for people with disabilities.
While the Adaptive Controller does not come with the adaptations necessary, Microsoft does sell them as add-ons. These expansions include leg and wheelchair mounts from RAM Mounts, larger joysticks, one-handed joysticks, foot pedals and controllers, spec switches, and grasp switches. While the accessibility impresses me, we must remember that accessibility (and gaming in general) is expensive. The Adaptive Controller retails for $99.99, and the accessories range from $20 up to $400. In comparison, a traditional controller retails for about $50. Depending on a player’s mobility, this product could cost quite a bit of money.
Microsoft, a technological giant, partnered with various occupational therapy groups and nonprofits in order to develop this technology. This included partnerships with the AbleGamers Foundation, The Cerebral Palsy Foundation, SpecialEffect, Warfighter Engaged, and many more. Microsoft’s website credits the development of the design, functionality, and packaging toward their work with these groups. Their work in this extremely underserved market is impressive, and representatives say that this is not a “one and done” deal – they will continue to develop and improve the accessibility of their products.
In their Super Bowl commercial, they highlight a young boy named Owen, who has Escobar syndrome. Owen is nine-and-a-half years old and, to the date of the commercial, has had 33 surgeries. He tells the camera that he loves “video games, my friends, my family, and again video games.” Because Escobar syndrome results in joint deformities and muscle weakness, Owen is able to use video games to make and interact with his friends when his mobility is limited. Owen himself puts it well – “what I like about the Adaptive Controller is now everyone can play.” In addition to helping his interaction, his father emphasizes how it helps him fit in with the other kids, and under Owen’s descriptions of how people can change the controls of the Adaptive Controllers, the commercial features many other children with disabilities playing with their own adaptations. When Owen’s friends watch him succeed in his video game, they all jump up and cheer when he wins. The image of kids having fun together is a sight that will warm anyone’s heart.
What I like about the Adaptive Controller is now everyone can play… No matter how your body is or how fast you are, you can play.”
While we can hope that with a change in market the controller may be more financially accessible, we can still commend Microsoft on their work to make the gaming community more accessible. Gaming is a huge field for those with physical mobility issues, as it allows them to connect with other players and make friends when they may not physically be able to. They featured children and adult gamers with disabilities in both their Super Bowl commercial and their other commercials, providing audiences not only with exposure to the product but to the people it aims to assist. Their research and work to make the controller adaptive while retaining its traditional sleek Xbox design will be an early step to making gaming more accessible for all.
You can purchase the controller here, and find a list of accessories here.
