Last night during the Super Bowl, one ad stood out among the rest. It featured a group of exceptional young people who, for various reasons, have limited mobility.
By Anastasia Staten
February 4, 2019
Young people who, like their friends, love to play video games and express their unlimited creativity. In the past, conventional game controllers have fallen short of helping them fully realize these goals. But, as the ad demonstrated, Xbox has created a new adaptive controller, a device years in the making that enables gamers with limited mobility to enjoy the transformative potential of video games by offering adaptable controller solutions that can be customized to fit each user’s needs.
Because of Microsoft’s dedication to inclusivity, and ensuring that all gamers are included in the gaming community, the ESA Foundation is thrilled to announce it will honor Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller team with it’s Champion Award at this year’s Nite to Unite charity gala on March 19, 2019 in San Francisco.
The theme of this year’s Nite to Unite is “innovation and impact,” a perfect description of what the Xbox Adaptive Controller delivers by making video games accessible to everyone seeking to explore new worlds and undertake new adventures. Roughly 2.6 billion people, one-third of the world’s population, enjoy video games, and by growing that community to include those who, until recently, faced obstacles to participation, the Xbox Adaptive Controller helps passionate gamers of all ages connect with their friends and families.
To bring the new adaptive controller to life, the Xbox Adaptive Controller team reached out to some important voices throughout its development process. Their inclusive approach to design was made possible by partnerships with The AbleGamers Charity, The Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Craig Hospital, SpecialEffect, and Warfighter Engaged.
For more than two decades, Nite to Unite has celebrated the many ways in which video games and their creators and partners drive positive change in our society, and transform children’s lives. Each year at the event, the ESA Foundation honors leaders and visionaries making a profound difference through video games while raising funds that support scholarships for the next generation of game makers and charitable organizations leveraging the power of video games.
Thank you, Microsoft for investing in the Xbox Adaptive Controller team, and more importantly, thank you to the team for the outstanding work that greatly benefits the limited mobility community. You have not only enabled those already playing to raise the level of their play; you’ve made it possible for people who never thought they could participate to access worlds that unlock their potential. The ESA Foundation is both proud and honored to celebrate your efforts to make games an experience to be enjoyed by all.
If you are interested in participating in the Nite to Unite Gala or supporting the ESA Foundation, please visit NiteToUnite.org.
