Sony Unveils New PlayStation Access Controller for People With Disabilities

Sony is set to release the Access controller for PlayStation made for people with disabilities, a development achieved through collaboration with accessibility consultants. This addition to the accessible-controller market showcases a concerted effort in the gaming industry to cater to a diverse range of players.

"As we prepare to introduce the Access controller to the accessibility community on December 6, today we're pleased to share a closer look at its development, including a first glimpse of its accessible packaging," Sony said in an announcement.

"Step behind the scenes as our hardware and UI designers, alongside user research leads, discuss their collaboration with accessibility organizations on a highly customizable PS5 controller kit designed to help gamers with disabilities play more comfortably and for longer periods," it added.

Sony Access Controller for PlayStation Is 5 Years in the Making

The development of the Access controller spanned five years and involved exploring six design concepts and numerous consultations with accessibility experts and community playtesters with disabilities.

The aim was to craft a design that could adapt to the needs of a wide spectrum of players. The accessibility journey begins right from the moment the product is unboxed.

Sony has designed the Access controller's packaging with the user in mind. It can easily be opened with one hand, featuring loops that can be pulled from either side.

The interior layout is organized with slots for efficiently storing the various kit components, including 19 interchangeable button caps and three stick caps.

While the Access controller is intended as a ready-to-use solution for many players with disabilities, it acknowledges the diversity of needs within the accessibility community.

This round, customizable controller, designed to be placed on a table or wheelchair tray, has programmable buttons, larger touchpads, and easy-to-use ports for external devices such as switches and joysticks.

Logitech G Adaptive Gaming Kit

Sony has also unveiled the Logitech G Adaptive Gaming Kit for Access controller. It is an official accessory kit developed in collaboration with Logitech and the accessibility community.

This supplementary kit offers a comprehensive set of high-performance, durable buttons and triggers that can be customized, assigned, and labeled. It includes eight plug-and-play buttons and triggers, featuring gaming-grade mechanical switches, light-touch buttons, and variable trigger controls.

Additionally, the kit provides gaming mats with a hook and loop system for flexible layout options, as well as Velcro ties to enhance mounting possibilities. Furthermore, custom stick-on labels with PS5 symbols are included to facilitate seamless gameplay.

The Logitech G Adaptive Gaming Kit for Access controller expands the range of options available to players, reflecting a commitment to providing extensive customization based on feedback from the accessibility community.

Players can also integrate third-party buttons, specialized trigger switches, and other compatible accessories with the Access controller through its four industry-standard 3.5mm expansion ports. It is important to note that the Access controller for the PS5 console and the Logitech G Adaptive Gaming Kit are sold separately.

"Since development began five years ago, we evolved the Access controller's design through half a dozen design concepts and prototypes, engaging in countless insightful discussions with accessibility experts and community playtesters with disabilities. Our goal was to create an innovative design that's adaptable to the needs of a wide array of players," Sony noted.