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Microsoft unveils new Xbox wireless gaming headset and updates accessibility guidelines
February 16, 2021 at 4:57 pm
The Xbox Wireless Headset is Microsoft’s first official set of Xbox headphones in years. (Microsoft image)
In a big news day for Microsoft’s Xbox division, the company announced a new wireless headset for the Xbox Series X|S and an upgrade of its gaming accessibility programs.
The Xbox Wireless Headset is the first officially-branded set of headphones that the company has offered for Xbox users since the heyday of the Xbox 360.
Designed to match the Xbox Series X’s color scheme and general aesthetic, the Bluetooth headset comes with an adjustable headband, polyurethane leather earcups, and an adjustable mic. It’s made to be compatible with the Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 PCs, with Microsoft claiming it’s good for four hours of battery life per 30 minutes of charging.
Xbox will let people with disabilities test game accessibility
JC Torres - Feb 16, 2021, 9:04pm CST
Games have become even bigger last year, partly due to many people being stuck at home. As prevalent as these interactive digital experiences may be, most of them have been designed with majority of gamers in mind, a majority that is made up of able-bodied people. Although some games do try to cater to gamers with disabilities, many still don’t especially on more locked-down platforms that don’t make it easy to customize games and controls for this subset of people. Continuing a journey it started in 2019, Microsoft’s Xbox is starting a new program that will help game developers design their games with accessibility in mind even before the title is launched.
Microsoft this week revealed a new testing platform geared towards helping developers engineer and refine the accessibility of their games.
Developers can now send their Xbox or PC titles directly to Microsoft and have it measured against Xbox Accessibility Guidelines.
As outlined in a blog post by gaming accessibility senior program manager Brannon Zahand, developers will receive comprehensive feedback and notes where issues are found, complete with reproduction steps, screenshots, and any other relevant information.
Furthermore, in order to help developers understand the potential impact of their design decisions, Microsoft will include links to gaming accessibility and inclusive design documentation, nonprofits and industry-recognised subject matter experts, platform-specific technical documentation, and more.