EA has recently made a significant move by open-sourcing 23 of its accessibility patents, allowing other game developers to use these technologies for free. This decision is a continuation of EA’s 2021 pledge to refrain from suing other companies that adopt similar tools, highlighting the company’s commitment to improving accessibility in gaming.
Key Technologies Made Available
Speech Recognition Tools: EA has released various tools aimed at simplifying in-game communication. These include technologies for personalized speech detection, which can adjust to factors such as a player’s age, emotion, language, and speaking style. These tools are designed to make speech interactions in games more effective and inclusive.
IRIS Photosensitivity Analysis: EA has also open-sourced an internal plugin for Unreal Engine 5, which incorporates their photosensitivity analysis technology called IRIS. This tool helps developers quickly identify potential issues related to players with vision or nervous system concerns, making it easier to create safer gaming experiences for people with specific health needs.
Broader Industry Impact
Kerry Hopkins, EA’s Senior Vice President of Global Affairs, emphasized that these open-source patents are part of the company’s broader goal to foster collaboration within the gaming industry. EA aims to work together with other developers to remove barriers to accessibility and create more inclusive gaming experiences for players.
This is not the first time EA has made its proprietary accessibility technology available to other developers. The company previously released the popular ping system from Apex Legends, which allows players to communicate in-game strategy without relying on voice chat. This system has since been adopted by other games like Call of Duty: Warzone and Fortnite.
Of course, we believe that EA’s open source initiative is just one step in the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility across the gaming industry. In the future, EA plans to host accessible design workshops and expand its testing capabilities, which will further support the development of more inclusive games.