Sony has teamed up with accessibility experts to release a PlayStation 5 controller for disabled gamers. The Access Controller is a "highly customisable kit" of different buttons, triggers and sticks that lets players create a set-up that suits their needs. Microsoft's Adaptive Controller, which can be used on Xbox and PC, has been on the market since 2018. But this is the first device of its type to be specifically designed by Sony for the PS5. But designing accessibility products is a massive task, as every disabled person's impairment is unique to them, and gaming technology is always evolving. Sony's plan to tackle this problem is through customisation - making it possible for each person to tailor the solution to their own individual requirements. The gaming industry has been under pressure to make improvements for disabled players. In the last few years, racing sim Forza Horizon 5 introduced a sign language feature, the Last of Us Part II has a mode for blind and deaf players, and Just Dance has a routine suitable for players in wheelchairs. But the hardware options have been slim for those with disabilities, and Mr Daniel said Sony's new controller was about addressing that.
