Are Indie Games Doing Better Than AAA at Accessibility?

Two distinct categories often dominate discussions: indie and AAA (Triple A) games. While each category has its own unique characteristics and appeals to ...

different audiences, some argue that indie games are superior to AAA titles in terms of accessibility. This blog post explores how indie game developers are making their games more accessible, potentially surpassing the efforts of AAA studios.

1. Understanding Accessibility in Gaming
2. The State of AAA Games in Terms of Accessibility
3. Indie Game Pioneers in Accessibility
4. Innovations in Indie Game Accessibility
5. Impact of AAA Games Catching Up
6. Challenges and Future Directions
7. Conclusion

1.) Understanding Accessibility in Gaming

Before diving into specific examples and data, let's clarify what we mean by -accessibility- in gaming. In this context, accessibility refers to designing games that can be enjoyed by a wide range of players, including those with disabilities such as visual, hearing, cognitive, or motor impairments. Features that contribute to accessibility might include adjustable difficulty settings, text-to-speech options, closed captions, on-screen controls, and more.

2.) The State of AAA Games in Terms of Accessibility

Despite the growing awareness around accessible gaming, many AAA titles still lag behind in this area. Critics often point out that these games can be difficult to play for those with disabilities due to complex interfaces, steep learning curves, lack of audio descriptions or subtitles, and more. This is where Indie developers have an opportunity to lead by example.

3.) Indie Game Pioneers in Accessibility

One of the key reasons why some Indie games excel in accessibility is that they often do not come with the same legacy technical debt as AAA titles. Developers can start from scratch and build a game with inclusivity at its core. Some notable examples include:

- Undertale by Toby Fox - Known for its innovative gameplay mechanics, Undertale also features fully voice-acted characters with English and Japanese audio tracks, making it accessible to deaf players who might struggle with subtitles.

- Axiom Verge - This game offers adjustable difficulty settings and on-screen controls that can be customized to suit different player needs.

4.) Innovations in Indie Game Accessibility

Indie developers are not only focusing on basic accessibility features but also exploring innovative solutions:

- Cognitive Considerations: Games like -Night in the Woods- by Infinite Fall have been praised for their thoughtful design choices that help players manage cognitive overload, such as adjustable pacing and simplified UI.

- On-the-Fly Accessibility Options: Some Indie games allow players to toggle accessibility settings on the fly during gameplay without pausing, which is a significant improvement over traditional methods requiring in-game menus or pauses.

5.) Impact of AAA Games Catching Up

As the gaming industry grows and diversifies, there's been some movement within AAA titles towards greater accessibility:

- EA's Play Lab: EA has launched a program where independent developers work on game prototypes under its guidance to improve their games for all players. This could potentially lead to broader accessibility improvements across more AAA releases.

- Industry Initiatives: The Game Accessibility Working Group, an alliance of leading video game companies and organizations, aims to advance the state of accessible gaming through research, education, advocacy, and collaboration.

6.) Challenges and Future Directions

While Indie games are certainly making strides in accessibility, there remains a long way to go:

- Lack of Resources: Indie developers often have limited resources compared to AAA studios, which can make implementing robust accessibility features challenging.

- Cultural Shift: Changing the industry culture towards inclusivity is not easy and requires significant effort from both developers and consumers.

7.) Conclusion

The success of Indie games in making their titles more accessible than many AAA offerings highlights a positive shift in the gaming community's priorities towards diversity and inclusion. As awareness grows, it remains to be seen whether AAA studios will continue to lag behind or actively work to match these standards for all players. Either way, the increased focus on accessibility across game development is undoubtedly beneficial for the industry as a whole, leading to more inclusive and enjoyable gaming experiences for everyone.

Are Indie Games Doing Better Than AAA at Accessibility?