Well, it’s definitely unique.
Gaming accessibility has been a thing for the past few years; there are people that can’t really hold a standard controller, but still wish to play. To that end, a few controllers aimed at accessibility have hit the market, notably the Xbox Adaptive Controller. But now, at CES, Sony has proudly tossed their hat in the ring with Project Leonardo.
Per their blog post, Sony consulted with accessibility groups like AbleGamers and SpecialEffect and Stack Up to create an accessible controller that is “highly configurable” and “works in tandem with many third-party accessibility accessories.”
…we’ve designed a highly configurable controller that works in tandem with many third-party accessibility accessories and integrates with the PS5 console to open up new ways of gaming. It is built to address common challenges faced by many players with limited motor control, including difficulty holding a controller for long periods, accurately pressing small clusters of buttons or triggers, or positioning thumbs and fingers optimally on a standard controller.
On the list of features is the ability to swap out buttons entirely around the circular gamepad, as well as a stick that can be repositioned as needed. It also comes with a number of attachments out of the box so users can find the right configuration. Finally, it’s equipped three 3.5mm aux jacks to allow users to plug in third party accessibility devices.
In addition, all of its buttons are remappable, and it has space for 3 different button mapping profiles. It can also be used standalone, in a pair, or alongside a standard DualSense controller.
“Project Leonardo is part of the PS5 product family and is based on the same design concept. We were inspired by the idea of all players enjoying the world of PlayStation together. Our team tested over a dozen designs with accessibility experts, looking for approaches that would help address key challenges to effective controller use. We finally settled on a ‘split controller’ design that allows near free-form left/right thumbstick repositionability, can be used without needing to be held, and features very flexible button and stick cap swapping.
“Because players can customize Project Leonardo according to their needs, there is no one ‘right’ form factor. We want to empower them to create their own configurations. The controller can also flexibly accept combinations of accessibility accessories to create a unique aesthetic. I am excited that the design will be completed through collaboration with players rather than presenting them with a single form factor.”
So Morimoto, Designer, Sony Interactive Entertainment
Project Leonardo is still in development, so its not ready for release just yet. It’s certainly not the design I might have expected, but there’s definitely a lot of thought and research going into it, and that can’t be anything but good. The future for accessible gaming is looking brighter and brighter.
Source: MSN
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