Foamstars is soapy fun … when I can see what’s happening in it
Foamstars is a visual assault that makes what fun there could be almost completely inaccessible to all players thanks to an insulting colorblind option.
Cosmonious High Adds Accessibility Update For Visually Impaired Players
Cosmonious High just received new accessibility features to support visually impaired players, available today on Quest 2, PSVR 2 & PC VR.
Arriving in a free update for existing owners, Owlchemy Labs detailed the Vision Accessibility Update (VAU) for Cosmonious High in a new blog post. Once activated through a new assist button, tutorials, teleportation locations, environments and objects being held or pointed will now have detailed audio descriptions. An audio confirmation plays when items are grabbed or released, while key objects use high-contrast outlines to illustrate themselves clearly.
“We believe that VR gaming should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities,” said Jazmin Cano, Accessibility Product Manager for Owlchemy Labs. “The Vision Accessibility Update is the first of its kind, not just at Owlchemy Labs but for VR gaming as a whole. We want to tear down barriers for all gamers, and this is another great step in that direction.”
Owlchemy claims this was made possible by collaborating with accessibility consultants, which includes renowned accessibility advocate Steve Saylor. In a prepared statement, Saylor confirmed that he’s “often felt excluded from the world of VR gaming” as someone with low vision, but believes “that’s starting to change” with the VAU update:
The combination of visual descriptions, contrasting colors, and other tools make it possible for me to experience VR in a way I never thought possible. This update is a game-changer for low-vision gamers everywhere, and I am proud to have been a part of its development.
This isn’t the first time Owlchemy’s given Cosmonious High an accessibility update. Last June saw the team addressing physical and cognitive disabilities, adding a one-handed mode that only requires a single controller. More seated play options were added, items became easier to grab, and iconography was adjusted for better readability. Further localization and inclusivity improvements were also included.
Cosmonious High is available now on Quest 2, Quest Pro, PSVR 2 and PC VR via Steam. Accessibility features can be turned on and adjusted via your in-game backpack, which you can grab by reaching over your shoulder.
Forza Horizon 5 is getting sign language support tomorrow
The addition of American Sign Language and British Sign Language subtitles is a big step forward for accessibility in games.
Halo Infinite and Xbox are getting more accessibility features
Xbox is introducing more accessibility features to its ecosystem and Halo Infinite.
Steam Deck brings gaming’s ongoing accessibility issues into focus
The Steam Deck has accessibility experts concerned about how text and UI will look on a small screen.
Waltz Of The Wizard Quest Hand Tracking Update Adds Palpatine’s Lightning Power
Unlimited Power!
If you’ve ever wanted the power of a Palpatine from Star Wars, Aldin Dynamics is ready to put electricity in your fingertips. A new update to Waltz of the Wizard on Oculus Quest adds a number of features to the groundbreaking game which was one of the first to support hand tracking in May.
Slingshot Fingers And New Experimental Updates
The new update adds the Palpatine-like electricity fingers as well as slingshot fingers, each of which look like a ton of fun. The latter has you extend your index and pinky fingers with your hand sideways to see a slingshot extending from the tips. Just pinch and pull back to launch a magical projectile, plus any small object can be launched into the distance as well.
Aldin also added an experimental accessibility feature meant for people with less than five fingers on a hand that makes “virtual representations of missing fingers move in sync with other fingers,” according to the company.
There’s an experimental microphone-based option as well that will see your voice reverberate or echo in different ways, depending on which scene of the game you’re in. The studio is also teasing an additional easter egg hidden somewhere.
For those unfamiliar, Waltz of the Wizard is a magical playground that offers access to a number of recipes that play havoc on the world around you. Each recipe changes how the world can be impacted by your hand’s movements. The game’s been in development for years but the May update recognized a number of hand tracking gestures like a way of pointing at the ground ahead of you to paint a path for room-scale movement.
“We have big plans for Waltz of the Wizard this year that we are very excited about. We can’t share details just yet, but let’s just say we are opening new doors for the future of Waltz of the Wizard — with our strong focus on VR design innovation, as always,” the developers teased.
The post Waltz Of The Wizard Quest Hand Tracking Update Adds Palpatine’s Lightning Power appeared first on UploadVR.
Nintendo Switch update adds button remapping and SD card game transfers
Players also get new icons from Animal Crossing: New Horizons
A new accessibility device turns a wheelchair into an Xbox gamepad
A new wheelchair-compatible gaming device will be free to those who qualify for a grant through AbleGamers.
Vacation Simulator Gets Subtitle Support For Six Different Languages
Today Owlchemy Labs released a major update for Vacation Simulator that adds in subtitles for multiple languages along with a slew of visual enhancements to aid accessibility for players.
Supported subtitle languages include English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish which is a great selection of option for players around the world. Coincidentally, the news comes just a day after Sanzaru Games and Oculus Studios announced similar support is coming to Asgard’s Wrath soon as well.
“Crafting subtitles in VR required a massive overhaul of industry best practices—but we truly believe in ‘VR for Everyone’ and are proud to bring VR to a whole new audience with this update,” says Peter Galbraith, Developer at Owlchemy Labs, in a prepared statement. “From the deaf and hard of hearing community to players around the world, everyone deserves a vacation.”
Just like everything Owlchemy Labs does, the subtitles feel like organic parts of the world in Vacation Simulator and are super playful. In a blog post about the update, the company details the process and methodology of adding support emphasizing the importance of making them feel like they “belong” in the world so as to avoid words simply floating for no reason in your field of view.
They’re shown at the depth of the speaker so they feel anchored and even go transparent when you need to interact with things behind them. When you’re streaming or recording footage, they’re shown at the bottom of the screen in Spectator Mode to make for a better viewer experience.
The subtitles update is out now on Steam and Oculus Home with the PSVR update coming soon. When the Quest version launches this feature will be included from day one later this year. There’s no word on if this feature will come to Job Simulator and Rick and Morty VR.
The post Vacation Simulator Gets Subtitle Support For Six Different Languages appeared first on UploadVR.
The Plyy is a fully customizable accessible gaming controller for everyone
German brand Plyon wants to make gaming accessible with its Plyy customizable gaming controller. Digital Trends spoke with head of design Alexander Römmelt about the project.