PlayStation is releasing a new customizable controller for the PS5 aimed at helping people with disabilities game more comfortably, announced at CES 2023.
In its announcement, the company said the controller was “built to address common challenges faced by many players with limited motor control, including difficulty holding a controller for long periods, accurately pressing small clusters of buttons or triggers, or positioning thumbs and fingers optimally on a standard controller.”
Sony’s new controller helps the PlayStation maker catch up to efforts that Microsoft brought to Xbox and Windows PC in 2018, with the release of the Adaptive Controller. That hardware, which costs $99.99, is compatible with a variety of add-ons and peripherals.
What is included with the controller?
The controller includes swappable components to create a wide variety of control layouts depending on the player’s range of motion, strength, and physical needs. There’s a range of different buttons which can be programmed to any supported function, and multiple buttons can be mapped to do the same thing (or you can map two functions onto one button, like when you need to hit “L2” and “R2” simultaneously). You’ll be able to reposition and change the distance between the left and right analog sticks and tailor the orientation of the “north” point.
What are some of the options in using the controller?
As far as physically using the controller, Project Leonardo offers a couple of options. The controller can be used lying flat on a table or wheelchair tray, or it can be fixed on a tripod or AMPS mount — you don’t necessarily have to hold it. Players can store up to three control profiles on the PS5 too, meaning you can save your programmed settings and switch between them. And the controller can be used by itself or paired with another Project Leonardo controller or DualSense wireless controller, meaning players can combine multiple devices if they need to. Plus, the controller works with many other third-party accessibility accessories.
Who did Sony consult with in launching the controller?
Sony says it consulted with accessibility experts like AbleGamers and SpecialEffect, and military veteran support group Stack Up, to design the new controller. A video introducing the project features members from those groups and developers from PlayStation Studios, explaining more about the controller.
