The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced the Accessible Games Initiative, a cross-industry effort to provide consumers with clear information about the accessibility features available in video games.
"Those of us who are in a position to make the world more accessible should work together to do just that," said Aubrey Quinn, Senior Vice President at the Entertainment Software Association.
The Accessible Games Initiative is designed to help provide clear information about whether a specific video game has accessibility features and, if so, what those features are. ESA unveiled this new initiative exclusively at the 2025 Game Developers Conference, alongside representatives from five founding member companies: Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, and Ubisoft.
The initiative is launching with a set of 24 “tags,” which were developed with guidance and feedback sourced from players with disabilities, accessibility advocacy groups, and development teams. Sample tags include: clear text, large and clear subtitles, narrated menus, stick inversion, and save anytime, among others.
“Tens of millions of Americans have a disability and often face barriers to experiencing the joy and connection that comes with playing video games,” said Stanley Pierre-Louis, ESA president and CEO. “This initiative demonstrates how impactful we can be when we work together in our industry-wide pursuit of helping more people experience the power of play.”
Participating studios and companies will place the Accessible Games Initiative tags on their digital storefronts, product pages, and digital catalogues. This will help players and other consumers, such as parents and teachers, know which features are in any given game before they buy it. Using these tags is voluntary but highly encouraged.
The idea for the Accessible Games Initiative was first developed by Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Ubisoft. Amazon Games, Riot Games, Square Enix and Warner Bros. Games also joined the Initiative ahead of the GDC announcement. The Accessible Games Initiative will be managed by the ESA, the trade association representing the U.S. video game industry.
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