PlayStation is releasing a new customizable controller for the PS5 aimed at helping people with disabilities play more comfortably, announced at CES 2023.
The gaming giant has unveiled the kit, codenamed Leonardo project, at the world’s largest technology conference on Wednesday. PlayStation has worked with accessibility organizations AbleGamers, Stackand Special effects to create the configurable “split controller” design.
In its announcement, the company said the controller was “designed to address common challenges faced by many gamers with limited motor control, including difficulty holding a controller for long periods of time, accurately pressing small groups of buttons or triggers, or optimally position thumbs and fingers on a standard controller.”
Until now, Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller has been the only first-party accessible game controller since its launch in 2018.
“Our team tested more than a dozen designs with accessibility experts, looking for approaches that would help address key challenges in using the controller effectively,” said Sony Interactive Entertainment Designer So Morimoto. , in a press release. “Because gamers can customize Project Leonardo to suit their needs, there is no ‘right’ form factor. We want to allow them to create their own setups.”
The controller kit includes interchangeable components to create a wide variety of control layouts depending on the player’s range of motion, strength, and physical needs. There are a range of different buttons that can be programmed to any supported function, and multiple buttons can be mapped to do the same thing (or you can map two functions to one button, such as when you need to press ” L2″ and “R2” simultaneously). You will be able to reposition and modify the distance between the left and right analog sticks and adapt the orientation of the “north” point.
Regarding the physical use of the controller, Project Leonardo offers several options. The controller can be used flat on a table or wheelchair tray, or it can be attached to a tripod or AMPS stand – you don’t necessarily need to hold it. Players can also store up to three control profiles on the PS5, meaning you can save your programmed settings and switch between them. And the controller can be used alone or paired with another Project Leonardo controller or a DualSense wireless controller, meaning players can combine multiple devices if needed. Plus, the controller works with many other third-party accessibility accessories.
The removal of barriers to gaming accessibility is happening slowly in the gaming industry, as well as in general technology and at CES itself. For PlayStation, Project Leonardo is the latest accessibility-focused project, following the features of the PS4 and PS5 consolesand options in games like God of War Ragnarök or The Last of Us Part I.
