Starfield fans have expressed anxiety over a perceived lack of essential features just weeks ahead of launch.
Starfield has garnered widespread enthusiasm among players of all backgrounds; however, those living with disabilities are concerned by Bethesda’s silence on accessibility settings for Starfield.
Since Bethesda showcased Starfield during Xbox Showcase last month, Bethesda fans all around are counting down to its release this September.
At its showcase event, Star Citizen showcased many game features such as exploring its 1,000 planets, building your own base and spacecraft, engaging with its storyline and meeting plenty of characters along the way – such as its returning “adoring fan” from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
Fans are eagerly awaiting its release; many are purchasing Xbox consoles solely to play this title and others already planning sick day excuses when the game hits later this year. Unfortunately, however, not all are equally excited; many worry it might suffer the same issues that Cyberpunk 2077 experienced such as bugs or performance issues; additionally they wonder what accessibility options will exist for disabled gamers.
IGN recently spoke with Kolo Jones, an outspoken disabled content creator and gamer, who expressed appreciation for what Starfield can bring while still having some reservations regarding what assistive tools it will offer to fans living with disabilities.
Jones stated his wish: “My ultimate wish for accessibility options to be communicated quickly – like yesterday… My primary fear lies within not knowing if and when I can play and being overjoyed at experiencing an experience I crave so greatly, both in terms of its theme and visual design.
“I am really eagerly awaiting this game; however, am I allowed to be excited? What if it is impossible for me to play it?”
As well, other developers have addressed this concern when planning big releases of games. Contemporary titles tend to consider all potential gamers when designing them – often including visual and gameplay features to enhance player experiences such as controller sensitivity settings, subtitle font sizes and audio descriptions.
Bethesda may include accessibility settings with their new game, however the radio silence from them in recent weeks makes us worry. There’s still time for details regarding any settings or assistance included to assist gamers who suffer from disabilities or impairment.
Starfield will be available this September exclusively on Xbox Series X/S and PC platforms.
