In a significant push towards gaming inclusivity, Blizzard Entertainment has revealed a comprehensive array of accessibility features for its forthcoming action RPG, Diablo 4, ahead of the game’s launch.
“The only limitation to adventuring in Sanctuary should be interest, not capability,” said Drew McCrory, the lead accessibility designer at Blizzard. Drawing inspiration from its work on Diablo 2: Resurrected, the gaming titan has integrated more than 50 individual accessibility options into Diablo 4.
Blizzard has committed itself to reducing barriers for players by offering an array of dexterity, text, and vision assistance options. The game will feature button remapping for both controllers and mice, a skill toggle and action wheel activation feature, the ability to swap left and right sticks, and a target lock to keep the focus on enemies during combat.
The company has also provided text assistance, including customizable cinematic subtitles, enabling players to change font color, scaling, and background opacity to their preference. Diablo 4 will also include speech-to-text functionality, transcribing spoken words into in-game chat.
Vision assistance features take into account the needs of players with visual impairments. Options include font and cursor resizing, in-game gear audio cues, player and item highlighting, and a built-in screen reader compatible with JAWS, NVDA, and other third-party screen reading software.
The developer invites players to give feedback and suggestions through an official accessibility email address. Blizzard’s commitment to redefining what accessibility means in the Diablo universe is a testament to the evolution of the gaming industry, focusing more on player inclusivity and overall gaming experience.
Diablo 4 launches on June 6, inviting players worldwide to test the newly implemented accessibility features and join the demon-slaying fun in Sanctuary.
