In some ways, game development is easier than ever. Between the availability of engines like RPG Maker and the release of titles like Game Builder Garage that tinker with the development process itself, there are countless ways to create a game that requires no prior programming or design experience.
“One of the biggest barriers to video game accessibility is gadgets.”Ines Rubin
The opportunities to get creative with Unreal, Unity, and other engines are huge. But – just like the issues with accessible games – there are still hurdles to overcome in making these engines accessible to everyone
This has a significant impact on the gaming industry: as revealed by the International Game Development Association’s 2021 Developer Satisfaction Survey 29% of survey participants believe they have a disability type.
Cameron Cudd heads Wales-based studio Dragoncog Interactive. He explains that with greater recognition of business and the ethical imperative to make game development accessible, major engines are making it a priority.
“Major engines like Unity and Unreal Engine have made great strides in integrating accessibility features, providing support for screen readers, keyboard shortcuts and customizable interfaces,” he says.
“These engines have extensive documentation and tutorials on how to implement accessibility features in games developed using their engines.”
He also noted that larger engines usually have the resources for developers to implement accessibility features, but independent engines often don’t. This view is supported by Cary Waterton, senior accessibility designer at Rebellion Studios, who explains that the range of technical support varies greatly depending on the engine.
“Standalone engines offer more individualized solutions. For example, there are some game engines that are specifically designed for blind developers, but they are often limited to audio game creation. In comparison, mainstream engines are suitable for developing a wide variety of games, so accessibility features are often extensive. There will be support.”
Lack of internal resources is often the main reason accessibility features aren’t implemented, says Ines Rubin, customer developer at Space Ape Games. “One of the biggest barriers to video game accessibility is the tools,” he said, “if the tools are too hard to get the team won’t be able to achieve their accessibility goals, because we’re all working under tight deadlines and budgets.”
“Development lacks accessibility…and developer help is hard to come by”Jess Molloy
Clay John is the developer of Godot, an engine built primarily by volunteers. He acknowledges that resource constraints are often dire, making it difficult to integrate accessibility features in the long term.
“While accessibility is important to us, we lack the personal energy and experience to do what we know. To be clear, we do not have accessibility experts on staff.
“Our current team consists of ten people who are looking for more accessibility tools – screen reader support being the biggest – but they generally lack the skills to help solve the “chicken-and-egg problem” and are encouraged to help more experienced people.
However, he’s optimistic that accessibility for game developers is a growing concern in the industry, noting that it’s a recurring, high-profile topic discussed at this year’s Game Developers Conference.
Inclusion and representation
However, some developers feel that even the best, well-intentioned accessibility features are secondary to game engine developers. This consequently limits their effectiveness in implementation.
Jess Molloy is a game designer and Certified Accessible Gamer Experience Practitioner (accessible games and art course offered by charity AbleGamers). He explains that even the biggest game engines sometimes choose not to make their tools available or make them accessible: “Unfortunately, there is no accessibility in development… and it’s hard for game developers to get help.”
He notes that in most cases this support must come from third parties: “Popular game engines have plugins to make content more accessible, designed to help developers meet CVAA requirements to comply with blind users.”
He cites plugins like ReadSpeaker for custom game engines as well as the Speech Engine SDK as third-party examples that need to support features built into some game engines.
Phoebe Hesketh is a researcher and founder of the education and advocacy group Take a Mo “Accessibility isn’t something you try to implement once or something you can use after you finish the program,” he explains, “It’s something that needs constant attention, application and tracking is especially important because accessibility features for disabled users Participate in analysis and review
Proponents therefore point out that the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the development process from the outset is crucial. Maren Rongen is a member of the Can I Play That team, which tracks accessibility options in games. This benefits both engine manufacturers and their end users, he says.
“Accessibility is not something you try to implement once or try to turn on after you finish the program.”Phoebe Hesketh
“Having people with disabilities on the team can help to continually raise awareness of accessibility and incorporate accessibility early in the design and development process, where integration costs less effort and money.
“When Engine Builder and core development tools like Unreal, Unity, etc. are accessible, it has the most impact because companies using these tools have less need to invent developer-specific solutions.”
This view is supported by Robin of Space Ape Games, who explains that accessibility for game developers means that the games they create tend to be more accessible, increasing their appeal.
“The more accessible the product, the bigger the customer base,” she says. “More money for engine builders, but a more diverse development team, means a more creative and accessible end product, which will benefit the entire player base.”
To illustrate just how much is still at stake, UKIE currently estimates that there are over 100,000 gamers who could form a new gaming audience from the disabled community.
Technical requirements
The issue of engine accessibility for game developers is closely related to a broader consideration of the constraints and pressures placed on game developers. While organizations like AccessibilityUnlocked credit the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) with helping meet the technical needs of developers with disabilities, it’s far from a panacea.
Mo’s Hesketh, for example, notes that overall game development is often a difficult process, which is particularly difficult for some developers with disabilities.
“Third-party developers can help make tools accessible, while producers and studios can make work environments more accessible. [by] Allow part-time or job sharing, enable remote work, propose more changes, and be clear about these opportunities for developers with disabilities.
Ensuring that all aspects of game development are accessible means that a wide range of live experiences can be considered when creating new tools for developers. Dom Shaw is the EDI coordinator for trade body UKIE. “When developers have access to tools that meet different needs, they can explore new ideas and methods that might otherwise remain unexplored,” he explains. “Features like keyboard shortcuts, customizable interfaces, and comprehensive documentation can increase productivity and workflow efficiency for all developers, not just people with disabilities.”
Beyond games, asset creation within engines like Unreal has become part of non-gaming activities, as brands create 3D models of their products for use in augmented reality and virtual spaces. In 2022, the Institute of Advertising Practitioners worked with Epic Games to create an introductory game development course for brands.
However, for engines to deliver what they promise – commercially and technically – they must be accessible to developers with different needs. Despite progress, there is still a gap to be closed before this commitment can be implemented.
