Gaming has exploded in popularity and Microsoft is hoping to make it easier for those with disabilities with its new accessibility Xbox controller, dubbed the Project Z controller. To make the controller more user-friendly, the Xbox team increased the A and B pads to be quite oversized, replaced the analog stick with a d-pad and enlarged the navigation and start buttons. The proposed controller has only been leaked at this point, but it is expected to be officially shown at E3 2018.
The leaked image provides a decent amount of context to the final controller, with oversized buttons and a three-light LED indicator, but there is also quite a bit to be explained. A variety of inputs litter the top of the Project Z controller that will most likely be programmable for other controls. A USB port can be seen on the side of the Project Z controller which lends greater cadence to the idea of programmable buttons.
Image Credit: Microsoft
What's Driving This Trend
- Accessibility-focused Controllers
- The Project Z controller showcases the trend of creating gaming controllers that cater to the needs of disabled individuals.
- Increased Button Size
- The oversized A and B pads on the Project Z controller reveal the trend of designing controllers with larger buttons for improved accessibility.
- Programmable Inputs
- The variety of programmable inputs on the Project Z controller highlights the trend of controllers that offer customizable button mapping options.
Who This Affects Most
- Gaming
- The gaming industry can leverage the trend of accessibility-focused controllers to develop inclusive gaming experiences for disabled individuals.
- Technology
- The Technology industry can explore the trend of increased button size in controllers to develop products that cater to users with different physical abilities.
- Design
- The Design industry can tap into the trend of programmable inputs in controllers to create user-friendly interfaces for various interactive devices.
