Microsoft Announces a New Xbox Accessibility Controller

If you’re physically able to play videogames with a traditional controller, it’s easy to take the standard array of joysticks, face buttons and shoulder triggers for granted. For many, though, that layout has long made playing games difficult or even impossible. Not everybody has the same abilities, and for too long videogames have generally ignored those who can’t physically use a controller in the way game designers expect it to be used.
That’ll soon be changing, at least for Xbox players. Last night Microsoft announced the Xbox Adaptive Controller, a new controller designed for players with disabilities and limited mobility. Designed in conjunction with a variety of partners focused on accessibility, including The Cerebral Palsy Foundation and The AbleGamers Charity, the Adaptive Controller is a flexible and customizable interface that can be adjusted for the specific needs of the player. The video below gives a sense of how multifaceted the Adaptive Controller appears to be, as players use the base unit and its two large buttons in conjunction with regular Xbox One controllers and various peripherals, including foot pedals.