PlayStation is committed to making gaming accessible to all players, and has implemented a range of features in its consoles and games to achieve this goal.
These include accessibility options in games like God of War Ragnarök and The Last of Us Part I, as well as a wide array of features in the PS4 and PS5 console UI.
Customizable Accessibility Controller Kit for PlayStation 5
At CES, PlayStation unveiled Project Leonardo for PlayStation 5, a new highly customizable controller kit that helps many players with disabilities to play games more easily, comfortably, and for longer periods.
Out of the Box
This innovative technology was developed with the input of accessibility experts, community members, and game developers, and is designed to work “out of the box” to improve the gaming experience for many players with disabilities.
Project Leonardo
Project Leonardo is a codename for this groundbreaking controller kit, which represents the next step in PlayStation’s ongoing efforts to reduce barriers to gaming and make it more accessible for all players.
Accessibility Experts
PlayStation has collaborated with accessibility experts and organizations such as
- AbleGamers
- SpecialEffect
- Stack Up
to design a highly configurable controller for the PS5 console that works in tandem with many third-party accessibility accessories.
Common Challenges
Project Leonardo aims to address common challenges faced by players with limited motor control, including
- difficulty holding a controller for extended periods
- accurately pressing small buttons or triggers
- positioning thumbs and fingers optimally on a standard controller
This new controller is designed to open up new possibilities for gaming and improve the experience for players with disabilities.
Features
Customizable Play Experience
Hardware Customizations
The kit includes a variety of swappable components, including different shapes and sizes of analog stick caps and buttons. These components allow players to create a wide range of control layouts and adjust the distance of the analog stick from the gamepad to suit their preferences.
The hardware customizations in Project Leonardo enable gamers with disabilities to find a configuration that works for their strength, range of motion, and specific physical needs, improving their overall gaming experience.
Software Customizations
In addition to the hardware customizations available with Project Leonardo for PS5, gamers also have an array of software options to tailor their play experience.
Button Mapping
These options include button mapping, where the controller’s buttons can be programmed to any supported function and multiple buttons can be mapped to the same function, or two functions can be mapped onto the same button.
Control Profiles
Players can also store their programmed button settings as control profiles and easily switch between them by pressing the profile button. Up to three control profiles can be stored and accessed by the player at any time from their PS5 console.
These software customizations further enhance the customizable play experience offered by Project Leonardo for PS5.
Accessibility
Project Leonardo for PlayStation 5 is a flexible controller that can be used as a standalone device or paired with additional Project Leonardo or DualSense wireless controllers.
Up to two Project Leonardo controllers and one DualSense wireless controller can be used together as a single virtual controller, allowing players to mix and match devices to fit their gameplay needs or play collaboratively with others.
Accessories
Project Leonardo is also expandable through four 3.5mm AUX ports to support a variety of external switches and third-party accessibility accessories. This allows users to integrate specialty switches, buttons, or analog sticks with the Project Leonardo controller.
The external accessories can be dynamically connected or disconnected, and each can be configured to act like any other button, further enhancing the customization options available with this innovative controller.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Project Leonardo is a revolutionary controller kit for PlayStation 5 that allows gamers with disabilities to fully customize their gaming experience.
With its robust kit of swappable hardware components and a range of software options, Project Leonardo enables players to find a configuration that works for their particular needs and improves their overall gaming experience.
