Hello Unreal Engine developers and community,
I’m reaching out to discuss an important accessibility feature that could greatly benefit a significant portion of the gaming community, including myself.
I suffer from a condition that makes it challenging to play the majority of games. However, I have found that colorblind features in games allow me to experience them like anyone else. Unfortunately, not all games include these features, which leads to a lot of frustration and wasted time and money trying to determine which games are accessible. Additionally, I’ve encountered games that break when attempting to use Windows’ colorblind features, making them unplayable for me. Also, using Windows’ built-in feature causes issues with the color grading on these games, making the visuals difficult to understand.
Given that Unreal Engine is an industry-standard tool, and many developers look to it for guidance, I believe it would be incredibly beneficial to have more robust, built-in accessibility options, particularly for colorblind players. Unreal Engine already includes some accessibility features and adheres to CVAA guidelines, which is commendable. However, expanding these features could help set a standard across the industry, ensuring that more games are accessible to everyone from the start.
Here are some suggestions for features that could make a significant impact:
-
Pre-built Colorblind Modes: Implement pre-configured colorblind modes (such as Deuteranopia, Protanopia (the one I use), and Tritanopia) that developers can easily integrate into their games. This would reduce the development time for including these features.
-
Customizable Color Palettes: A mode to allow players to customize the overall in-game color palettes within developers’ styles, giving them the flexibility to adjust colors to their specific needs. This could be implemented as a standard option with the Unreal Engine framework. Cell phones have the option to reduce the brightness of the color filter and a range of colors to pick from in their accessibility features.
-
Accessibility Compliance Checker: Introduce an accessibility compliance checker that automatically reviews a game’s settings and provides feedback on areas that could be improved to meet accessibility standards.
Though more of a stretch, these are some other suggestions that could help:
-
Simulated Accessibility Testing: Include tools within Unreal Engine that simulate various visual impairments, enabling developers to test and optimize their game for different accessibility needs.
-
Guidelines and Best Practices: Provide comprehensive guidelines and best practices within the Unreal Engine documentation for implementing accessibility features, including colorblind modes. This could include case studies or examples.
I’ve seen firsthand how reaching out to developers can lead to the inclusion of these features and their impact on the gaming community. For example, after I suggested colorblind support to the developers of Baulder’s Gate 3, they included it, greatly enhancing the experience for players like me.
Thank you for considering these suggestions. I truly believe that with Unreal Engine and the community at large support, we can make gaming more inclusive for everyone.