PlayStation unveiled an ultra-customizable controller kit at CES aimed at helping gamers with disabilities play games more easily.
Codenamed Project Leonardo, the kit was designed in collaboration with accessibility specialists, community members and developers to enable more gamers to enjoy PlayStation products.
“Through conversations with accessibility experts and amazing organizations like AbleGamers, SpecialEffect, and Stack Up, we’ve designed a highly customizable controller that works with third-party accessibility accessories and integrates to the PS5 console to blaze new trails in the gaming world,” says Hideaki Nishino, VP of Platform Experience at Sony Interactive Entertainment. “We wanted to address the challenges faced by many gamers with limited motor skills, in particular the inability to hold a controller for long periods of time, accurately press buttons or triggers, or position thumbs and fingers on a classic joystick.
Aperçu by Project Leonardo
Here are some of the main features of Project Leonardo:
Material customizations
Project Leonardo for PS5 is a blank canvas for gamers to weave their own gaming experience on. This system features a kit of interchangeable components, including a variety of analog stick caps or keycaps in different shapes and sizes.
Players can use these components to create various control configurations. The distance between the analog joystick and the gamepad can be adjusted according to the player’s preference. These components allow players to find a configuration suited to their specific strength, motor skills and physical needs.
Software customizations
On the PS5 console, players have a number of options to customize their gaming experience with Project Leonardo:
- Key functions:
Controller buttons may be programmed to perform an unsupported function. Several keys can be configured for the same function. Conversely, players can assign two functions (like R2 and L2) to the same key. - Command Profiles:
Players have the ability to store their programmed key settings as command profiles. They can then easily switch from one profile to another by pressing the profile key.
Players can store up to three command profiles on their PS5 console to access at any time.
The Project Leonardo kit can be used as an independent controller, or be associated with other Project Leonardo or DualSense controllers.
PlayStation points out that Project Leonardo is under development, and that the company relies on the opinions of its communities. More details on the official blog de PlayStation.
