The Entertainment Software Association have launched the Accessible Games Initiative

The Accessible Games Initiative from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has been launched, with an aim to improve how developers and stores list clear information about the accessibility features available in video games.

It was announced at GDC this year with Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Ubisoft, Amazon Games, Riot Games, Square Enix and Warner Bros. Games signing up to it. It will be directly managed be the ESA.

From the press release:

The primary purpose of the new Accessible Games Initiative is to help provide clear information about whether a specific video game has accessibility features and, if so, what those features are. The initiative is launching with a set of 24 “tags,” all with clear criteria about what each tag means. Sample tags include: clear text, large and clear subtitles, narrated menus, stick inversion and save anytime, among others. Over time, participating companies will place the Accessible Games Initiative tags near their game product information – for example on digital storefronts, product pages or digital catalogues. This can help provide players and other consumers, such as parents and teachers, with clear information about which features are in any given game before they make a purchase.

“Tens of millions of Americans have a disability and often face barriers to experiencing the joy and connection that comes with playing video games,” said Stanley Pierre-Louis, ESA president and CEO. “We are immensely proud to announce the Accessible Games Initiative in partnership with industry leaders. This initiative demonstrates how impactful we can be when we work together in our industry-wide pursuit of helping more people experience the power of play.”

Hopefully we will see the likes of Valve expand on accessibility notices on Steam store pages, they could definitely do with noting various features on there to help people.

I would really like to be able to search directly for games on Steam that have font and UI scaling, which is one of the biggest nuisances not just for Steam Deck but for Desktop too. I find too many games have tiny text. I can't imagine how bad it is for people with worse vision than me. This all sounds like a good step in the right direction.

See more on the new website.