Video games have evolved into something more than a past time. With the advent of advanced gaming consoles like the Xbox video games have become an important passive medium that lets players have different experiences. While the difficulty level of the games might differ it is no doubt that they help people immersive themselves in a world of fantasy. Microsoft has now made way for people with mobility impairments to experience the world of gaming.
Xbox Adaptive Controller
Microsoft Xbox Adaptive Controller is a device that has been specially designed to pair with the console and allow people with disability to play games across all Windows devices including Windows 10 and Xbox One. The best part is that the Adaptive Controller has been designed to cater to all sorts of impairments and not just one. On a separate note, I personally feel that even the traditional Xbox controllers need to be amended to make it more easy to use.
Until now the video gaming world has been at an arm’s length away from people with disabilities. Microsoft is literally leading the way with the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Interestingly Microsoft got the idea for the Adaptive Controller from one of their previous products. A couple of years ago Microsoft had announced Xbox Elite Controller, a high-end gamepad for advanced customers, however, gamers with limited mobility ended up preferring the gamepad. The Elite Controller allowed users to remap every button and also swap the original parts with custom parts.
This is what Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox had to say-
“Our goal was to make the device as adaptable as possible, so gamers can create a setup that works for them in a way that is plug-and-play, extensible, and affordable. In addition to working with common adaptive switches that gamers with limited mobility may already own, it has two large buttons built in. These buttons can also be reprogrammed to act as any of the standard controller’s button inputs via the Xbox Accessories app.”
The Xbox Adaptive Controller will be launching in the upcoming E3. As far as pricing is concerned the Xbox Adaptive Controller will retail exclusively on the Microsoft Store at $99.
