Breaking down accessibility barriers: how the industry is redefining how we play

The video game community is huge — and thus inescapably, splendidly diverse. That diversity should be a call to action for the game industry, to deliver characters and stories that reflect the global player community, which includes the players counted among 61 million Americans living with a mobility, cognition, hearing or vision disability.

It means tapping into a huge audience that is ready, willing and able to hand out their money, time and enthusiasm to studios that offer them accessibility features and hardware. And it’s an opportunity to hire diverse development talent who offer fresh ideas, new perspectives and, most critically, the benefit of their lived experiences, to help give these players the games they need.

“Video games have delighted and inspired players for decades and are often a lifeline for social connection for players with disabilities,” says Aubrey Quinn, senior vice president for the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). “Our industry has made significant advancements in both accessible hardware and features over the past several years to help players with various disabilities experience the power of play. Continuing this good work on accessibility is critical to our mission to bring the joy of play to as many people as possible.”

So how can developers continue to meet the needs and wants of this growing community? To tackle the question, the ESA is hosting the Accessibility in Gaming Lunch at GamesBeat Summit 2025 in Los Angeles, on Tuesday, May 20. Lunch starts at 12:30 p.m. PT, and the panel kicks off at 1 p.m. PT.

During the lunch panel, Quinn will lead a conversation with Holly Wescott, accessibility lead at Amazon Games, Dr. Kaitlyn Jones, director of clinical outreach at Warfighter Engaged and gaming accessibility lead at Xbox and player, content creator and accessibility consultant Steve Saylor, about how the video game industry is advancing efforts to make games accessible for as many players as possible.

From customizable controls and adaptive hardware to inclusive design and tagging systems, this session will highlight innovative strategies that make games more playable and enjoyable for players of all abilities. Panelists will discuss the challenges and breakthroughs in designing for players with disabilities, share real-world examples of successful features and accessories and offer insights into the future of accessibility for the industry.

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