Accessibility Compliance and Inclusive Design Burden

Definition

Accessibility regulations (ADA in US, similar regulations globally) increasingly apply to software including games. Accessibility requirements include: keyboard controls, colorblind modes, screen reader support, subtitle/caption support, adjustable difficulty, controller remapping. Implementing accessibility adds development complexity and requires expertise in accessible design. Many developers lack accessibility knowledge. Failing to implement accessibility can result in lawsuits (accessibility lawsuits against game studios increasing). Accessibility-focused players represent ~15% of potential market. Games without accessibility support exclude these players and invite legal action. Adding accessibility retrofitted post-launch costs 2-3x more than building in from start. Small studios often skip accessibility entirely due to cost, then face player backlash and potential legal exposure. Some AAA studios face accessibility lawsuits; indie studios lack resources to defend against lawsuits. This creates pressure to implement accessibility despite cost, or risk legal exposure.

Why This Matters

Accessibility consulting services for game studios, accessible design training, accessibility testing services, widget/component libraries with accessibility built-in, inclusive design consulting

Affected Stakeholders

Game Studio Owner, Creative Director

Related Business Risks