Sony Announces First Controller for Accessibility

Sony has just unveiled their latest accessory for the PlayStation 5: a controller specifically designed for those with disabilities. This is a first for Sony- who has been quite behind Microsoft, who launched their first accessibility controller way back in 2018. However, it’s not a surprise to see the company branch out, especially considering the features seen in their first-party games in the last few years. From the Last of Us Part 1 to Horizon: Forbidden West, Playstation have become pioneers in giving players as many options as possible to allow a much broader range of people to play. In fact, 2022 Playstation exclusive ‘God of War: Ragnarok’ won the award for Innovation in Accessibility at last year’s Game Awards. Following this, it makes sense to see Sony committing more to this market.

Unveiled initially as ‘Project Leonardo’, Sony showcased a controller specifically made for the disabled with as much customisation as possible to ‘reduce the barriers of gaming’. Of course, this unveil is fantastic, as it expands the gaming space to a group of people who were neglected for so long. Finally, those with disabilities can play games more comfortably, more easily, and for longer periods on PlayStation platforms. Similar to their upcoming DualSense Edge controller, Project Leonardo will be made with the phrase ‘customisability is king’ in mind. This means that every element of the controller may be swapped out and changed to fit the specific needs and comforts of each individual player. This includes larger buttons, easier to click triggers and external accessory support for those who need further assistance to play their games.

Speaking on the controller, Sony published the following quote from one of the designers, So Moritomo:

“Because players can customize Project Leonardo according to their needs, there is no one ‘right’ form factor. We want to empower them to create their own configurations. The controller can also flexibly accept combinations of accessibility accessories to create a unique aesthetic”

Described as an ‘out of the box’ customisation experience, gamers will be able to swap out certain buttons, sticks, and aspects of the controller that will allow them to have the most comfortable session for them individually. This also means that you shouldn’t need to purchase any additional buttons or sticks for this controller- as everything comes with the initial purchase. This is definitely a good thing considering the controversy of the Playstation elite DualSense Edge having £20.00 stick modules that could be purchased separately from the controller.

While a release date has not yet been set out by PlayStation, they have stated that the controller is in active development. This should mean it will release at some point in 2023. If this works as intended, it will finally give the less able an opportunity to experience some of the greatest gaming experiences of all time. If Sony continues their push into this market, they may soon overtake Microsoft as champions of accessibility. Sony ended their blog post announcement with the following statement:

“We are also grateful to everyone in the community who has advocated for greater gaming accessibility. You are the reason we do our work and your passion inspires us every day. It’s truly a privilege for us to create products that better serve your needs”