Browser games, video games or playing on the console: The virtual world is part of everyday life for many people. And the gamers themselves are as diverse as the games themselves. Taking part in a multiplayer game without hands or playing a VR competition despite visual limitations? People with physical or mental disabilities also want to enjoy themselves in the world of gaming. To this end, Microsoft, among others, has launched a number of gadgets and tools on the market that make it easier for people with disabilities to access e-sports - or make it possible in the first place.

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E-sports now have almost as many fans as some traditional sports. It is estimated that around 550 million consumers worldwide currently take part in e-sports at least occasionally - and the trend is upwards. But it's not just participants and spectators who have jumped on the electronic sports bandwagon. More and more reputable betting providers are now including e-sports in their repertoire or expanding their range to include them. It is therefore not surprising that e-sports Paralympics have even been held since 2011.

Despite the great popularity of e-sports, there has long been one group in society that has been ignored or simply marginalized: People with disabilities. But regardless of whether they have perceptual disorders, speech deficits, cognitive or sensory limitations, new inventions from Microsoft are now making it possible to participate in the world of electronic gaming. Gadgets and practical computer accessories can overcome users' previous barriers. After all, e-sports should be accessible to everyone. After all, the game is about tactical thinking and skill, not personal limitations.

How Microsoft is mastering inclusion in e-sports

At Gamescom, the world's largest trade fair for interactive games, inclusive gaming is a theme every year. The gaming industry offers additional settings in the software to overcome barriers. But there are also great accessories for the hardware. Thanks to Microsoft's products, e-sports competitions are accessible to all players.

The company launched an adaptive controller, the "Xbox Adaptive Controller", back in September 2018. This basic device serves as an assistive tool. The aim is not only to make the gaming world more accessible, but above all to enable the addition of other extra devices. Microsoft also offers the Micro Light Switch or AbleNet Specs Switch. These switches also provide haptic and audible feedback.

1. hardware: Xbox Adaptive Controller

The new Xbox Adaptive Controller provides a solution for gamers with limited mobility and enables them to enter the world of gaming on computers with the operating system Windows 10 and the Xbox One console.

The controller is accessible via the Microsoft Store available for 89.99 euros. It consists of the conventional control elements, a control pad and 19 AUX outputs to connect various additional devices to the controller. Two large buttons are also built in. Each player adapts these individually via the app so that they function like the buttons on the standard controller.

Releasing hardware for gamers with disabilities goes hand in hand with high standards. That's why the Xbox Adaptive Controller is constantly being developed in close cooperation with organizations and gamers who are themselves affected or regularly confronted with the needs of people with disabilities. The purpose is to provide an affordable control tool that can be dynamically integrated into any setup. Microsoft continues to work on new devices that can be used for both consoles and PCs and open up the digital world of e-sports to as many people as possible.

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2. customized software

The best controller doesn't help much if the game itself creates obstacles. This is why some software manufacturers allow small changes to be made to their program. This takes the strain off gaming newcomers and people who can't react as quickly.

The first step is to optimize the system settings. Color and contrast settings, subtitles or speed adjustments make it easier to keep up with the computer game. People with hearing impairments, for example, can follow the story with additional subtitles. The buttons on the controller can be programmed so that players can set the level of difficulty individually. Some game manufacturers offer the option of selecting a zoom. And for the Xbox, there is even the so-called co-pilot function. This allows two players to share the controls.

Why the inclusion of people with disabilities is important

Gaming helps many people - regardless of their disability - to take a short break from everyday life. For people with limited mobility in particular, however, it means being able to enjoy freedom. This includes, for example, moving around, controlling a car or plane and playing sports such as boxing or soccer. The gaming world opens up everyday pleasures for them, even if these only take place in the virtual world.

Maxi Gräff, Communications Manager at Microsoft in the Xbox and Gaming division, also feels that this is the right way to go:

"There are 7.5 billion people in the world, four billion of whom have internet access, and two billion gamers within the next three years - including many gamers with physical disabilities. Video games are an important part of society and at Microsoft we believe in inclusion in all areas."

For people with disabilities in particular, gaming is more than just a leisure activity or entertainment. The fact that players with disabilities have long been able to demonstrate their own refined and methodical skills in e-sports has brought the standardization of inclusion and accessibility in gaming a long way forward. The computer and video games industry can also benefit from this and tap into this new target group.

• Tip: Questionnaires that help manufacturers to make their games more accessible are available online on many sites.

Conclusion: the retrospective test

In recent years, since the controller came onto the market, it has been tested by many people with all kinds of disabilities. Before the controller can be used by people with severe disabilities, they first have to painstakingly program the device to meet their individual requirements. Their assessment is accordingly: The adaptive device is not suitable for almost 99 percent of people with disabilities. "The controller offers new possibilities, but still quite limited." Finds one user interviewed. However, the fact that it is generally possible to adjust the device to personal requirements is definitely a small success for those involved.

Accessible gaming has been an issue in the industry for some time now. Nevertheless, game developers still have a long way to go to ensure that the virtual world of e-sports is equally accessible for everyone. In addition to the hardware that Microsoft has developed, even small adjustments or updates to consoles, controllers and with the software of the games can help bring us closer to inclusion.