NME | Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Pop Culture News
Microsoft has just announced new plans for accessibility measures, with a revised edition of the Xbox Accessibility Guidelines (XAGs).
The Xbox Accessibility Guidelines provide a “comprehensive set of best practices” for the gaming industry to follow. Developed by the Microsoft Gaming Accessibility team, the guidelines help designers test the accessibility of a game.
In a blog post published yesterday (February 17), Microsoft introduced the revised edition of the XAGs, featuring improvements based on feedback from both the development community and the gaming and disability community.
![Xbox Adaptive Controller](https://www.nme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Xbox-adaptive-controller-2000x1270-1.jpg)
Developers can now send Xbox or PC games directly to the Microsoft accessibility team to test inclusivity measures.
Should they find any issues with a game, the development team will be provided with reproduction steps and screenshots, showing how a certain aspect of a game may be challenging for an individual with disabilities.
Microsoft also released the Xbox Adaptive Controller in 2018, a modular controller that makes user input more accessible for a range of disabilities. The controller can be customised in a number of ways, and can even work on competitor consoles.
Microsoft has also been working on improving features across the Xbox Series S & X, including efforts to expand the quick resume feature.
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