Microsoft announces Xbox Adaptive Controller to bring accessible gaming to all

Microsoft is on a mission these days, and that is to become as many people to participate in the technological revolution we are living in – that includes people with disabilities and who accept limited mobility to play games on Xbox.

The new $99 Xbox Adaptive Controller has been "years in the making" and involved Microsoft working closely with The AbleGamers Charity, The Cognitive Palsy Foundation, Craig Infirmary, SpecialEffect, and Warfighter Engaged.

Microsoft Xbox head Phil Spencer detailed the announcement in a new blog post on Xbox Wire, where he shared some of the goals and motivation behind the projection:

At Microsoft, we believe in empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our CEO, Satya Nadella, has spoken about how essential it is that we button the boundaries of what engineering science can do in a concerted try to be inclusive of anybody around the globe. These principles have the deepest touch on in how nosotros are building products that are designed for everyone. We have been on a journeying of inclusive design, which celebrates and draws inspiration from people who are often disregarded in the typical design procedure.

For gamers with limited mobility, finding controller solutions to fit their individual needs has been challenging. The solutions that exist today are often expensive, difficult to detect, or require significant technical skill to create. A number of individuals and organizations are creating custom solutions, but information technology has been ofttimes hard for them to calibration when about rigs need to exist so personalized.

An image of the controller leaked earlier this week with our games editor Jez Corden detailing the function of the mystery device. Microsoft is now announcing it in conjunction with Global Accessibility Awareness Mean solar day (May 18), which seems apropos.

On top of the device lay two big programmable buttons, aslope quick admission the Xbox, Bill of fare, View, and other key inputs. What makes this controller truly unique is along the rear – 19 3.5mm jacks, hooking the console into an existing ecosystem of accessible buttons, thumbsticks, and other input devices. A defended USB port allows joysticks to exist connected from 3rd-party manufacturers too. This controller volition be compatible with both Xbox One and Windows 10 devices, with additional functionality tied to the Xbox Accessories app.

Many people with disabilities accept had a difficult fourth dimension affording customized hardware for gaming, often leaving them on the sidelines. With Microsoft'southward recent focus for the last few years on inclusive design and bringing Windows – and now Xbox – to anybody including those without the aforementioned means as the rest of us can savour the fantastic technology that is evolving day to day.

The Xbox Adaptive Controller will be sold exclusively through the Microsoft Store for $99 later this year. For more information make sure to read Spencer's full blog post as well every bit 'Plugged In' the story backside the journey to make the controller.

Encounter Xbox Adaptive Controller at Microsoft

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