Advancing game accessibility with audio description

Since 2020, game accessibility has gained significant attention from both industry and academia. For players with visual disabilities, features such as screen readers, sound cues, contrast settings and, more recently, audio description (AD) have been a game changer. In fact, research on game AD is s...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Larreina-Morales, María Eugenia|||0000-0002-4783-4331, Mangiron i Hevia, Carme|||0000-0002-6421-8581
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:326370
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/326370
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.47476/jat.v8i8.2025.355
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Audio description
Blind and low vision players
Game accessibility
Interviews
Visual disability
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network_name_str España
spelling Advancing game accessibility with audio description User perspectives and recommendations Larreina-Morales, María Eugenia|||0000-0002-4783-4331 Mangiron i Hevia, Carme|||0000-0002-6421-8581 Audio description Blind and low vision players Game accessibility Interviews Visual disability Since 2020, game accessibility has gained significant attention from both industry and academia. For players with visual disabilities, features such as screen readers, sound cues, contrast settings and, more recently, audio description (AD) have been a game changer. In fact, research on game AD is still in its early stages, and more studies are needed to explore user needs and preferences. This paper examines AD as a crucial accessibility feature in games, beginning with a review of its current implementation, which primarily focuses on non-interactive game content. It then outlines findings from the Researching Audio Description: Translation, Delivery and New Scenarios (RAD) Project, specifically focusing on insights gathered from fifteen interviews with blind and low-vision adults in Spain. The interviews cover three topics: lack of game accessibility, potential features for AD in games, and next steps for improving game accessibility. Key interview results highlight the potential of incorporating AD into game design to improve access to non-interactive content. The paper concludes with ten guidelines addressed at developers, researchers, and other stakeholders to enhance game accessibility, stressing the importance of integrating accessibility at all stages of development in collaboration with players with disabilities. https://ddd.uab.cat/record/326370 https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.47476/jat.v8i8.2025.355
title Advancing game accessibility with audio description
spellingShingle Advancing game accessibility with audio description
Larreina-Morales, María Eugenia|||0000-0002-4783-4331
Audio description
Blind and low vision players
Game accessibility
Interviews
Visual disability
title_short Advancing game accessibility with audio description
title_full Advancing game accessibility with audio description
title_fullStr Advancing game accessibility with audio description
title_full_unstemmed Advancing game accessibility with audio description
title_sort Advancing game accessibility with audio description
author Larreina-Morales, María Eugenia|||0000-0002-4783-4331
author_facet Larreina-Morales, María Eugenia|||0000-0002-4783-4331
Mangiron i Hevia, Carme|||0000-0002-6421-8581
author_role author
author2 Mangiron i Hevia, Carme|||0000-0002-6421-8581
author2_role author
topic Audio description
Blind and low vision players
Game accessibility
Interviews
Visual disability
topic_facet Audio description
Blind and low vision players
Game accessibility
Interviews
Visual disability
description Since 2020, game accessibility has gained significant attention from both industry and academia. For players with visual disabilities, features such as screen readers, sound cues, contrast settings and, more recently, audio description (AD) have been a game changer. In fact, research on game AD is still in its early stages, and more studies are needed to explore user needs and preferences. This paper examines AD as a crucial accessibility feature in games, beginning with a review of its current implementation, which primarily focuses on non-interactive game content. It then outlines findings from the Researching Audio Description: Translation, Delivery and New Scenarios (RAD) Project, specifically focusing on insights gathered from fifteen interviews with blind and low-vision adults in Spain. The interviews cover three topics: lack of game accessibility, potential features for AD in games, and next steps for improving game accessibility. Key interview results highlight the potential of incorporating AD into game design to improve access to non-interactive content. The paper concludes with ten guidelines addressed at developers, researchers, and other stakeholders to enhance game accessibility, stressing the importance of integrating accessibility at all stages of development in collaboration with players with disabilities.
publishDate 2025
format article
url https://ddd.uab.cat/record/326370
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.47476/jat.v8i8.2025.355
language eng
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
institution Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
collection Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
reponame_str Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
instname_str Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
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publishDateSort 2025
author_browse Larreina-Morales, María Eugenia|||0000-0002-4783-4331
Mangiron i Hevia, Carme|||0000-0002-6421-8581
score 6.924472