Microsoft’s 2019 Super Bowl commercial felt a little different than most of the other ads. It didn’t go for laughs or shock value, but rather targeted the viewers’ emotions as it introduced kid after kid who loves video games—including those with physical disabilities who have seldom, if ever, been able to play alongside their friends. The commercial was for the Xbox Adaptive Controller (XAC), a piece of equipment released in late 2018 that has made the gaming community significantly more inclusive.
People without a disability might not regularly think about the logistics of using a video game controller, but it nearly always requires the use of two hands, 10 fingers, and the ability to nimbly use those appendages without issue. The Adaptive Controller isn’t the first piece of video game equipment designed to accommodate people without that ability, nor will it be the last (hopefully). The Adroit Switchblade was released in 2011 and is considered a precursor). Arguably though, XAC has had the biggest reach thus far, especially when you consider that primetime ad spot. TIME magazine named the controller one of the best inventions of 2018.
Is it perfect? Gaming experts say no. The Adaptive Controller is currently priced around $40–100 more than the traditional controller—but it needs a number of add-ons to really work at its full potential (or, depending on the disability of the user, for it to work at all). Currently, some of the available attachments include a one-handed joystick for $20 to a wheelchair seat mount for $115. Third-party attachments can be even pricier, such as a $550 mouth-operated joystick from QuadStick.
However, the release of a device that makes gaming accessible to millions more people encouraged conversation about how those with disabilities are regularly excluded from niche communities. “The Xbox Adaptive Controller (XAC) is a fantastic move toward making consoles more accessible and creating mainstream dialog,” writes Erin Hawley, founder of The Geeky Gimp blog (geekygimp.com) on her website. “While its invention opens Xbox gaming to more people, it hasn’t solved everything. PlayStation and Nintendo need to catch up. We still need game design that works better for D/deaf, blind, and/or developmentally disabled people. ...The conversation must be one for today rather than one for 10 or 20 years in the future.”
