Xbox Celebrates Accessibility in Gaming with New Adaptive Joystick and Continued Support for Special Olympics

At Xbox, we believe that gaming is for everyone. Our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility drives us to create experiences that resonate with all players, including those in the Gaming & Disability Community. This month, we are proud to recognize the 425+ million players who make up this vibrant community. By fostering inclusive communities, enabling accessible design, and continually investing in accessibility, we aim to break down barriers and ensure that everyone can enjoy the magic of gaming. 

We’re thrilled to announce our continued partnership with the Special Olympics to advance inclusivity in gaming. Since 2014, Microsoft and Special Olympics have collaborated to empower athletes through technology, leading to the annual Gaming for Inclusion event. This year Xbox was proud to host select Special Olympics athletes in Redmond for an incredible event including a build challenge with Minecraft Education and a Gaming for Inclusion tournament.  

We are committed to empowering everyone to play the games they want, with the people they want, anywhere they want, in a way that works for them. We are always looking for ways to offer even more choices that allow players with disabilities to customize their gaming setups. This year, Xbox is proud to highlight new products, developed in partnership with the Gaming & Disability community and nonprofit organizations, including the Xbox Adaptive Joystick, complimentary 3D printable files for adaptive thumbstick toppers with Xbox Design Lab, and two Designed for Xbox controllers: ByoWave’s Proteus Controller and 8BitDo’s Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller. These innovations provide even more accessibility options to support gameplay and enhance the gaming experience for everyone.  

Join us as we celebrate the voices and perspectives that make our community stronger and more connected. 

Xbox Partners with Special Olympics 

Since 2014, Microsoft and Special Olympics have partnered to empower athletes through technology, evolving to include the annual Gaming for Inclusion event by Special Olympics and Xbox.  

In September, Xbox and Mojang hosted three Special Olympics athletes in Redmond for a Mojang build challenge alongside Minecraft Education Edition developers. The athletes also toured Xbox Headquarters and met Xbox leaders, including Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer. Special Olympics also held the Gaming for Inclusion tournament where Special Olympics athletes and their Unified partners competed in Rocket League for a chance to join the upcoming Gaming for Inclusion Showcase.    

This Saturday, the official Xbox and Special Olympics YouTube Channels and the Official Xbox Twitch Channel will broadcast the Gaming for Inclusion Showcase, where winners from the qualifying tournament will showcase their competitive skills in Forza Motorsport. The showcase will also feature highlights from the GFI Rocket League qualifying tournament as well as a recap of the Mojang build challenge.   

Tune in to the official Xbox Youtube or Twitch channel on October 5 at 10am PT to cheer on the athletes and learn more about Xbox’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Visit Special Olympics to learn more about their programs and find ways to support their work. Microsoft Rewards members in some markets can also earn points and donate them to Special Olympics to support this initiative. 

Gaming and Impact with Rewards 

Rewards members in select countries can earn and donate points to organizations supporting people in the gaming and disability community with Xbox. The organizations below will be featured on console in the United States and the United Kingdom throughout October: 

• SpecialEffect – SpecialEffect transforms the lives of physically disabled people across the world through the innovative use of technology. At the heart of their work is their mission to maximize fun and quality of life by helping people control video games to the best of their abilities 

• Warfighter Engaged – Warfighter Engaged’s mission is to improve the lives of severely wounded and disabled warfighters through custom adapted devices. They modify video game controllers, make prosthetic enhancements, recreational and other novel devices for greater independence. All adapted items are provided at no cost to the warfighter.  

• AbleGamers – AbleGamers creates opportunities that enable play in order to combat social isolation, foster inclusive communities, and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. 

With Xbox, players can earn Rewards points in various ways, such as playing games, completing Game Pass Quests, and purchasing games or other eligible items at the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply). Start earning today and redeem your points for real rewards. Join us today and donate through Xbox.   

Explore Games Curated by Gaming and Disability Communities at Microsoft 

Celebrate the Gaming and Disability community through the power of play! Connect and play games that allow you to immerse yourself in a variety of perspectives and experiences. During October and beyond, check out games created by and reflecting the experiences of neurodiversity and people with disabilities.  

Available on the Microsoft Stores on Xbox and Windows, browse the Stores Collection  year-round as part of our ongoing work to create more inclusive gaming ecosystems and elevate content that resonates with communities. For Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, explore the Xbox Game Pass Gaming & Disability community collection and the PC Game Pass Gaming & Disability community collection. 

Featured titles within the collections include: 

• Gris (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – Journey through the five stages of grief as a girl trying to find her voice. Explore an intricate world brought to life with delicate art, immersive music, light puzzles, and challenges that represent overcoming trauma and depression. More of the titular character Gris’ world becomes accessible as the story unfolds, and you will see her world in a different way, revealing new paths and abilities. The game can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of their spoken language. 

• Solar Ash (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – Desperately try to save your home by venturing into a black hole as Rei, an agile and talented Voidrunner. Created during the pandemic by Alx Preston, whose life with congenital heart disease has inspired much of his work, Solar Ash is set in the same colorful metaverse as the action-RPG Hyper Light Drifter. Solar Ash presents a different view of the same world with a unique 3D environment and innovative movement-based gameplay. Experience a story filled with abstract themes of anxiety and grief, masked throughout the gameplay with the feeling and need for urgency, control, and perfection. Choose your own difficulty mode, a feature added to be inclusive for more players.  

• The Sims 4 (Free on Xbox Console and PC) – Always evolving, The Sims 4 has made many updates to become a more inclusive game, aiming to represent more players authentically. In the game today, you can create characters with wearable medical devices, such as hearing aids and glucose monitors. Character customization also includes representation for vitiligo, surgery scars, binders for gender affirmation, community influenced skin colors and hairstyles, and customizable pronouns. 

Coming in 2025: Xbox Adaptive Joystick 

Players with disabilities have shared their desires for an affordable joystick option to use alongside the Xbox Adaptive Controller and other Xbox controllers. We listened. In partnership with the Gaming & Disability community, we created the Xbox Adaptive Joystick. Through years of research, testing and collaboration with players with disabilities and accessibility experts, we designed the joystick to be versatile enough to meet the various needs of players with disabilities. The joystick can be controlled with one hand, mounted via tabletops, or used with non-hand body parts to allow players to seamlessly incorporate it into their existing gaming setups. Each button is customizable, and the joystick can be further modified with the complimentary 3D printable files to 3D print adaptive thumbstick toppers  through Xbox Design Lab.  

The Xbox Adaptive Joystick will be available in early 2025 in select Xbox markets worldwide for $29.99 USD ERP. To learn more about the Xbox Adaptive Joystick and other new accessibility offerings designed by and for Xbox, check out our post on Xbox Wire.   

Wallpapers and Dynamic Backgrounds 

The Gaming & Disability Community Xbox design is available today as an Xbox Wallpaper.  Get your wallpaper here. Content is subject to availability by country.