Leading charity calls for “consistent, enforceable standards” to make games accessible for visually impaired players
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has published a white paper calling for “consistent, enforceable standards” in the video game industry to ensure games are accessible to visually impaired players. The charity argues that video games have historically been inaccessible or difficult to navigate for those with little or no vision, creating barriers that exclude players not due to lack of interest or skill but because of deliberate design choices.
A key concern highlighted in the white paper is the lack of transparency around accessibility features. With games costing up to £70, visually impaired consumers have no reliable way of knowing how accessible a game might be before purchase, leaving them to make uninformed purchasing decisions or avoid games altogether.
The RNIB has already begun discussions with industry stakeholders to address these issues, though the organization emphasizes that this dialogue is “just the start of the conversation.” The call for enforceable standards suggests the charity is pushing for concrete, measurable requirements that game developers would need to meet, rather than relying on voluntary industry practices.