A win for more accessibility in video games

This is not entirely IP related, but something positive I saw and wanted to share during what I am sure is a busy exam season for us all!

Ubisoft has recently launched Chroma, an open-source tool made to simulate colour blindness, aiming to improve gaming accessibility for approximately 300 million people worldwide affected by the condition. Chroma allows developers to replicate three main types of colour blindness (protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia) by applying real-time rendering up over game graphics without impacting performance. [1]

Chroma has features such as:

• “Color Simulation on single monitor. This solution works on top of game and can be maximized as per requirement.

• Work on all games. No dependency on any specific game or engine.

• High performance. Able to simulation live gameplay upto 60 FPS.

• Accurate results.

• Simulation of all type of color blind forms.

• Only available solution which capture screen live gameplay screen and simulate.

• Easy screenshot to log error.

• Easy and configurable UI” [2]

While Chroma will not be performing at the highest level of rendering performance, it is the tradeoff needed to ensure accurate and accessible game play. As it has been released now under an open-source license, other developers can now make use of this technology to “enhance accessibility in their own games”. [1] Additionally, in March of this year, the Entertainment Software Association introduces the Accessible Games Initiative, a cross-industry initiative, which aims to give consumers “clear information about the accessibility features available in video games.” [3]

These are both pieces of news that highlight the industry’s desire to make the gaming space more accessible and inclusive for everyone!

Sources:

[1] https://www.techspot.com/news/107574-ubisoft-chroma-helps-developers-simulate-color-blindness-across.html

[2] https://github.com/ubisoft/Chroma# (and photo credit as well!)

[3] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/entertainment-software-association-introduces-the-accessible-games-initiative-to-provide-players-with-information-about-accessibility-features-in-video-games-302406737.html