Design Victory: Empowering Inclusive Gaming with Personalised Controllers
Discover how the unique design of the PlayStation Access™ controller and the limitless customisation of the Xbox Adaptive Controller revolutionises the way players of all abilities experience gaming.
Playstation Access™ Controller
The Playstation Access™ controller, also known as Project Leonardo, was launched in December 2023, and its unique design immediately caught my attention. Unlike the familiar DualSense controller, this controller features a round shape and a fully covered panel with eight prominent buttons encircling it, along with a central round button. Each button has a distinct shape, with some resembling a computer mouse while others resemble a triangular pyramid. Additionally, there is a small round button on top of the buttons that serves as a customisable label indicating its function. This sparked my curiosity, and further exploration led me to an incredible design story video that explained the rationale behind this intriguing design.
Morimoto, the Art Director/Design of the Playstation Access™ controller, shared his design philosophy, stating, "I think there are as many designs as there are customers. It's about enabling them to build their own Access™ controller to their liking. I believe there is no correct form of design." This quote perfectly encapsulates the philosophy behind the controller's design. Morimoto recognised the diverse range of mobility disabilities and understood the impossibility of creating a controller to accommodate each one individually. Instead, the focus of the design was on empowering users to customise the controller according to their unique needs. Consequently, the design went beyond the product itself, aiming to enhance the experience of personalizing the controller based on the options it provides.
Through extensive user research with Accessibility Consultants, the team identified five key objectives for the access controller:
1. Enabling hands-free controller operation.
2. Ensuring easy button pressability.
3. Organising buttons on a single plane.
4. Providing ample thumbstick repositioning and flexibility.
5. Offering a customisable controller kit right out of the box.
Contrary to the expectation of customisation being limited to button functions, the Playstation Access™ controller offers a broader range of customisation options. Players have the freedom to choose not only the button functions but also the shape of the buttons themselves, allowing them to select the most suitable design based on their specific mobility and flexibility needs.
Equally important was the user interface for customisation. It guides users through the process of customising the buttons and creating multiple profiles. This functionality enables players to effortlessly switch between different customisation profiles that are specifically tailored to various game genres.
Shoi Yonetomi, the UX Designer, concluded the experience as "It's a controller as if you build both software and hardware from scratch."
The power of the Playstation Access™ controller doesn't stop there. Players have the option to use just one Access controller or two Access controllers. Additionally, they can combine an Access controller with a DualSense controller, or even use two Access controllers alongside a DualSense controller. This flexibility further enhances the configurability of the setup.
Xbox Adaptive Controller
The design of Playstation Access™ controller brings to mind the Xbox Adaptive controller, which also emphasises configurability. The Xbox Adaptive controller, launched in 2019, features buttons on a single plane but has a flat design. Buttons on the Xbox Adaptive controller cannot be customised on the plane.
But here's the twist—the Xbox Adaptive controller boasts nineteen 3.5mm ports and two USB 2.0 ports for external inputs, whereas the Playstation Access™ controller offers only four 3.5mm ports. Leveraging their strategic partnership, Xbox (Microsoft) and Logitech collaborated on the Logitech Adaptive Gaming Kit specifically designed for the Xbox Adaptive Controller. This collaboration resulted in a highly configurable and adaptable experience for Xbox users, expanding the controller's versatility and customisation options.
e creativity displayed by players who reviewed the Xbox Adaptive Controller truly amazed me. They generously shared their customised setups, demonstrating how they personalised the controller to perfectly align with their individual needs and preferences. For instance, Ben, a player and reviewer of the Xbox Adaptive Controller, ingeniously utilises a sip/puff quadstick to execute shooting actions while playing Dota 2. Witnessing how players fully embrace the potential of customisation is truly incredible.
No right or wrong, just different.
Xbox seemingly assumes that users are eager to embrace the challenge of customising their own controller. Consequently, the Xbox Adaptive Controller serves not only as a controller but also as an adapter, empowering players to create their own unique configurations. By collaborating with the Logitech Adaptive Gaming Kit, the gaming experience becomes highly personalized. On the other hand, Playstation aims to deliver an accessible controller that caters to the majority of users right out of the box, without the need for additional accessories. These distinct strategies reflect their shared goal of inclusivity, albeit approached from different angles.
The exploration of accessibility controllers has been an incredible and exciting journey. I am certain that there are even more amazing controllers to be discovered in the gaming industry. Nevertheless, this exploration has reinforced the idea that individuals with disabilities are not defined by their limitations but are complete individuals who adeptly utilise the resources at their disposal to achieve their goals. It is truly inspiring to witness the profound impact of these controllers on fostering inclusivity and accessibility within the gaming world.