Our Odyssey this week released their Overjoyed Accessible Controller, a virtual controller usable by mouse or eye movement. Our Odyssey is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing services and connections for young adults living with rare diseases. The controller is available for purchase on the Microsoft Store for $4.99 USD, with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit.
Control PC or console games
Any mouse or eye gaze input can control the Overjoyed Accessible Controller to emulate keyboard or controller inputs. Aside from PC games, it can also control games on Xbox or PlayStation. It does this through the Xbox Remote Play and PS Remote Play apps. Even Nintendo Switch control is possible, thanks to a collaboration with 8BitDo. For this purpose, it’s possible to use the 8BitDo Micro controller as an adapter. A special Overjoyed firmware update for the Micro is available on the 8BitDo support site.
I made it my mission to raise awareness for social inclusion for young adults living with a rare or chronic condition
Anthony DeVergillo
Instrumental in the development of the Overjoyed Accessible Controller was accessibility advocate Anthony DeVergillo. Anthony, 31, lives with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Having struggled with social isolation a lot, he knows how gaming can connect people. With this innovative controller the aim is to allow more people with limited dexterity or mobility to access gaming and other digital activities.
International Day for Social Inclusion
In line with their mission, Our Odyssey has designated the first Saturday of April as International Day for Social Inclusion. To celebrate this day and the release of the Overjoyed Accessible Controller, Our Odyssey planned a Special Celebration Livestream for tomorrow, April 6. Those interested can register for the virtual event that will start at 4PM EDT.
The Overjoyed Accessible Controller seems like another great addition to the growing arsenal of adaptive ways to control games using readily available equipment. Like all of these initiatives, it will be interesting to see how it evolves in the future.
