This year’s Gamescom is just around the corner with both an in-person event and a digital live stream promising to showcase a number of upcoming video game titles. Xbox has revealed what players can expect to see at Gamescom, both in terms of video games and accessibility accommodations.
The reveal comes in an official Xbox blog post (Thanks, Antonio) where it details numerous details. The in-person booth itself will have Xbox Adaptive Controllers available to request as well as the booths themselves being wheelchair accessible. American, British, and German sign language (ASL, BSL, and DGS) interpreters will also be present, and “Here to Help” staff will be around should visitors need assistance.
To add, the Here to Help staff will be in “easily identifiable attire” and will have sensory processing gear at hand such as “earplugs, dark glasses, and fidgets.” Xbox is also running disability etiquette training for all brand ambassadors at the Xbox booth.
For the live stream, those watching online will find ASL, BSL, and DGS interpretation available as well as audio description available in English.
Xbox making these accessibility accommodations at Gamescom available for both an online and in-person event is incredible to see. It’s still unclear how much of Gamescom 2022 is going to be accessible given that there appears to have been no communication regarding the accessibility of the event itself. The most I’ve been able to find is information regarding how COVID is being handled during the event.
