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Gaming accessibility is the star of Microsoft's Super Bowl ad
Microsoft has placed more focus on accessibility as of late, an effort that has extended into gaming, particularly with last year's release of the Xbox Adaptive Controller for Xbox One and PC. Now, the controller is taking center stage in a Super Bowl ad that highlights some of the ways it helps gamers with mobility limitations. During Sunday's game, CBS will air a 60-second version of the charming "We All Win" clip.
How a hackathon helped build the Xbox Adaptive Controller
A small crew of designers pieced together the first prototype for the Xbox Adaptive Controller three years ago, at Microsoft's annual internal hackathon. The event invites employees to work on experimental or pet projects and present them to colleagues for feedback, and a handful of developers were interested in building a gamepad for people with limited mobility.
Why Xbox spent a year designing the Adaptive Controller packaging
Kevin Marshall takes boxes very seriously. It's his job as Microsoft's creative director of global packaging and content, where he oversees design and practicality aspects of the containers for Surface, Windows, HoloLens, Xbox and other products. "Packaging is really important to us as a brand at Microsoft," he said on a Skype call stacked with technology reporters. A slim cardboard box rested on the table between him and industrial designer Mark Weiser. "It's critical to the successful launch of a product and it's certainly a key element in a rewarding consumer journey."
Microsoft's Xbox accessibility controller is available for pre-order
Microsoft's Adaptive Controller for the Xbox was designed with accessibility in mind. It brings the needs of people with disabilities to the forefront, ensuring that they can use their existing accessibility tools with a gamepad that was designed with them in mind, first and foremost. Today, Xbox announced that the $100 controller is now available for pre-order. The devices will ship in September.
Xbox Adaptive Controller first look: A new, necessary gamepad
Microsoft stumbled into the accessibility market about three years ago, with the launch of the Xbox One Elite controller. The Elite wasn't designed to help people with disabilities play video games -- in fact, it was built for hardcore players who wanted more mapping options by adding rear paddle buttons, more sensitive triggers and interchangeable analog sticks to the classic dual-grip Xbox gamepad. It just so happened these features were also in high demand at organizations like AbleGamers, whose goal is to make gaming accessible to anyone with disabilities via education, community support and the creation of custom controllers.
