EA Opens Accessibility Patents for Better Gaming

EA Opens Accessibility Patents for Better Gaming

Electronic Arts (EA) has taken a significant step towards improving gaming accessibility by open-sourcing two of its patents. This move allows developers outside of EA to utilize technology previously exclusive to the company, benefiting players with disabilities.

Enhanced Accessibility for All Gamers

This decision directly addresses the needs of gamers experiencing photosensitive seizures or speech impairments. The initiative builds upon EA’s 2021 pledge to ease restrictions on patents focused on improving player quality of life. The newly released patents include:

• A speech-based patent designed to improve in-game speech recognition, reflecting players’ age, emotion, language, and speaking style.
• IRIS, an Unreal Engine 5 plugin that proactively alerts developers to potentially seizure-inducing moments in their games, helping prevent photosensitive epilepsy triggers. As IRIS engineer Blanca Macazaga Zuaz notes, early testing is key to identifying these issues.

EA’s commitment to accessibility is commendable, setting a positive example for the gaming industry. While not the sole company focusing on accessibility, EA’s decision to freely share these patents is a significant advancement.

This action reflects a growing industry-wide effort to make gaming more inclusive and enjoyable for players of all abilities.