Xbox is continuing to expand its initiatives to make gaming more accessible, especially to the over 425 million players with disabilities worldwide. Today, the company revealed three new accessibility devices and 3D printable files for adaptive thumbstick toppers, offering new accessibility options for gameplay with Xbox. The devices were created in partnership with the Gaming & Disability community and nonprofit organizations and include the Xbox Adaptive Joystick, 3D printable files for adaptive thumbstick toppers available with Xbox Design Lab, and two Designed for Xbox controllers, one from ByoWave and another from 8BitDo.
The Xbox Adaptive Joystick is a single joystick that can be used along with the Xbox Adaptive Controller and other Xbox controllers. It’s a wired companion to Xbox controllers and includes four button inputs on the front, a standard Xbox thumbstick, and two additional buttons that mimic the bumper and trigger placement found on a traditional controller. Each button on the Xbox Adaptive Joystick is customizable. Xbox shared several different use cases for the joystick, including one-handed play, mounted via tabletops, or used with non-hand body parts. It is set to launch early next year and will cost $29.99 USD.
Available now, however, are 3D printable files for adaptive thumbstick toppers on the Xbox Design Lab. These are free to download, and currently, six designs are available:
- Plate-shaped thumbstick topper: Provides a shallow, indented surface helpful for operating sticks with larger body parts, like the chin.
- Dome-shaped thumbstick topper: Features a rounded, convex surface designed to accommodate various grip strengths or dexterity levels.
- Stick-shaped thumbstick topper: Offers a narrow cylindrical grip, increasing height and leverage to reduce the force needed to operate the stick.
- Pull thumbstick topper: Provides a deep, bowl-shaped surface that surrounds a thumb, finger, or similar object, reducing the pressure required.
- Sphere-shaped thumbstick topper: Presents a smooth, rounded, ball-shaped surface to support alternative ways of operating a thumbstick, such as grasping it.
- Custom thumbstick topper: Allows players to create their own shape with increased adhesion for shapable materials like clay or moldable plastic, enabling them to make and affix any shape that works best.
One of the Designed for Xbox controllers is the 8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller, available now for $59.99 USD. It is designed specifically for gamers with limited mobility, offering low-resistance buttons and highly sensitive Hall Effect joysticks. Underneath the controller is a non-slip silicone mat to keep it in place, while all the buttons are easily accessible on top of the controller. This controller can connect wirelessly with a 2.4G adapter, or wired directly to Xbox and PC devices. Included with the controller are two programmable Super Buttons that can be mapped and are fully compatible with the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
The other offering comes from ByoWave and it’s called the Proteus Controller. A premium choice with a $299 USD price, the Proteus Controller features snap-and-play parts for personalized customization. It’s been in development for over four years, as the team at ByoWave worked to perfect the controller’s modular design. In total, there are over 100 million different combinations and the module mapping system makes it easy to save and switch setups.
Along with the new accessories, Xbox also announced a new toggle hold accessibility feature. It’s available to Xbox Insiders today and is designed to make it easier for players to deal with prolonged button presses. It functions similar to sticky keys on a PC, where players can assign any button or port on the Xbox Adaptive Controller, Xbox Adaptive Joystick, or Xbox Elite Series 2 controller to stay pressed until pressing again to release.
