Today at CES 2023, PlayStation announced Project Leonardo – a highly customizable accessibility controller kit. The kit will reduce barriers for gamers with disabilities and give them access to more games easily and comfortably.
“Through conversations with accessibility experts and incredible organizations like AbleGamers, SpecialEffect and Stack Up, 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.
– PlayStation Blog, Hideaki Nishino (Senior Vice President, Platform Experience, SIE)
The new controller has many key features such as:
- a variety of analog stick caps and buttons in different shapes and sizes
- adjustable distance of the analog stick from the game pad
- button mapping and control profiles via the PS5
- can work collaboratively with the DualSense and/or an additional Project Leonardo controller
- four 3.5mm AUX ports to support a variety of external switches and third-party accessibility accessories
- easily securable to AMPS mounts or tripods
PlayStation have previously pioneered accessibility in gaming software with The Last Of Us Part II sparking a much needed surge in accessibility in the gaming industry. The 2020 game had one of the most extensive accessibility options ever found in a video game, with more recent PlayStation releases like God of War Ragnarök and The Last Of Us Part I also following suit.
RELATED: REVIEW: The Last Of Us Part I
You can watch the announcement here:
Project Leonardo does not have a release date just yet, but it is currently in development as Sony continues to gather feedback from the community.
“We are also grateful to everyone in the community who has advocated for greater gaming accessibility. You are the reason we do our work and your passion inspires us every day. It’s truly a privilege for us to create products that better serve your needs. We look forward to sharing more in the future, including additional product features and launch timing.”
– PlayStation Blog, Hideaki Nishino (Senior Vice President, Platform Experience, SIE)
