Steam Adding Accessibility Features Including “Adjustable Difficulty” To Store Pages

by

Summary

  • Valve upgrading platform to improve accessibility features for gamers.
  • Planned features include adjustable difficulty, audio and visual options, and input features.
  • Developers encouraged but not required to implement new accessibility features.

On PC, Steam dominates the market for game sales, but instead of being complacent, Valve is continuously enhancing the platform to aid gamers in making informed buying choices.

This adjustment aims to facilitate a swifter and consistent recognition of accessibility features by players, thereby reducing confusion when new games are introduced on the platform.

Steam Plans To Upgrade Accessibility Features Big-Time Soon

It’s been revealed that changes, including the introduction of new accessibility options like adjustable difficulty levels, narrated game menus, and more, are slated for implementation sometime this year. Valve shared this news through a Steamworks Developer post, which was also reported by GamingOnLinux.

Some of the new features include:

  • Gameplay options, like adjustable difficulty
  • Audio accessibility features, including custom volume controls and narrated game menus
  • Visual accessibility features, including adjustable text size and color alternatives
  • Input options, which include chat speech-to-text and text-to-speech

Users can take advantage of the store’s search capabilities to find games with particular accessibility aspects like those that allow players to save at any time, have voiceover menus, offer chat text-to-speech features, provide adjustable difficulty levels, and more.

At present, Valve suggests (but does not mandate) that developers incorporate the suggested new features into their games. These recommendations are advantageous as they streamline the process of linking games with players actively seeking such connections.

This move represents progress for the platform and gaming industry as a whole. Given the increasing number of individuals engaging in gaming today, it’s crucial for developers to recognize that gamers span a wide range of ages and abilities.

It’s likely that Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo will consider and possibly adopt this approach as well. This move by Valve aims to enhance the gaming experience for its users. In fact, starting in February, Valve has begun prohibiting games on Steam that make players watch advertisements while playing.

Read More

2025-04-24 02:08