The PlayStation Experience Might Be About To Change For Gamers With Disabilities

The gaming experience for those with visual and auditory disabilities is set to be improved with a new firmware update on the PlayStation 4.

Last week, Twitterer Ahsan Rasheed shared snaps of a friend’s beta version of an upcoming PS4 firmware patch, revealing new settings that include the ability to translate text-to-speech, invert colours, enlarge text, enable closed captions and reassign buttons.

The Huffington Post followed up with a spokesperson for Sony Computer Entertainment America, who confirmed that the new update “will be released soon.”

The spokesperson declined to comment on whether or not that Twitter snap was legit, however.

Though features like those listed above might be taken for granted by most players, their inclusion will open a whole new realm of opportunities for those with impairments; many of whom, perhaps, have never been able to play video games before.

Steven Spohn, COO at The AbleGamers Foundation, told HuffPo, “Millions of people… are suddenly going to have an easier time playing games.”

He cited the ability to reassign buttons as a major innovation, particular for those with muscular diseases that might struggle with traditional ‘triggers’.

Whether or not this marks a movement by the entire industry to allow for a more inclusive experience – for instance, at this time, Sony does not allow custom, third-party controllers developed specifically for gamers with disabilities on the PS4 – is yet to be seen.

Hopefully, this patch really will feature the enhancements, and is also just step one towards a more evolved gaming world.