Sony's PlayStation 5 is getting more accessible, especially for those with disabilities.
The popular tech giant recently revealed more details of its Project Leonardo controller kit, revealing what it's made of and what it can do to further the accessibility of its current-gen video game console.
Sony previously announced Project Leonardo during CES 2023 alongside the end of the PlayStation 5 shortage globally.
Sony PlayStation 5 Access Controller
Sony Interactive Entertainment Senior Vice President for Platform Experience Hideaki Nishino mentioned in a recent PlayStation Blog that its Project Leonardo controller kit is now officially called the Access Controller for the PS5.
It is an all-new, highly-customizable accessibility controller kit designed to help PS5 gamers with disabilities to play games easily, comfortably, and for longer periods.
The controller comes with the standard dome-and-ball analog stick caps and button caps in different shapes and sizes. These button caps include Pillow button caps, Flat button caps, a wide flat button cap that covers two button sockets, overhang button caps, and curve button caps.
Nishino mentioned that the overhand button caps would benefit players with smaller hands since they're positioned closer to the center. Meanwhile, gamers could change where the curve button caps are located depending on their preference - they can be pushed if placed along the top or pulled if placed along the Access controller's bottom part.
Last but not least is the controller's swappable button cap tags for gamers to easily mark and identify which inputs they map to each button.
PS5 gamers with disabilities can place the controller on flat surfaces, orient it 360 degrees, or secure it to an AMPS mount* or tripod for comfort and ease of access. It also comes with a unique user interface that players can personalize to unlock new ways to play.
To do so, Nishino explained that PS5 gamers with disabilities could customize and select their preferred orientation for their Access controller and even map different inputs to various buttons, toggle buttons on or off, or even map two different inputs on one button.
Interestingly, PS5 gamers with disabilities could opt to use up to two Access controllers and a single DualSense controller together as a virtual controller, which helps in the mixing and matching devices, or allow for collaborative play with other people, per The Verge.
Sony PS5 Access Controller Availability, Other Details
Despite these reveals, Sony did not mention when it would release the Access Controller or how it would connect to the PS5 console. Nevertheless, the company promises to reveal more info about it in the foreseeable future.
Sony previously mentioned partnered with a handful of organizations, including AbleGamers, SpecialEffect, and Stack Up. to design its Access controller for the PS5. According to Sony designer So Morimoto, their team tested over a dozen designs with accessibility experts that would them address key challenges to effective controller use.
