ESports is enjoying an ever-increasing following over the years, and that’s no secret. But it’s still not as accessible for literally everyone. With this, however, things might change for the better.
GameSpot reports that Logitech, one of the most recognizable brands in the gaming industry, is joining forces with AbleGamers to put up a so-called “adaptive Esports tournament” that will cater to disabled gamers. The tournament will be a one-off competition featuring the popular title Rocket League, and will be exclusive to members of the disabled community.
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Aside from AbleGamers, Logitech is also teaming up with Adaptive Action Sports, which is a non-profit organization that teaches action sports to people with physical disabilities young and old, as stated in their website. There’s also Mount Sinai Rehab, which is a NY-based collective that focuses on developing adaptive technologies for people who need them.
For those who are interested, the event already has a website where you can sign up. The tournament is expected to be held during Fall 2021, with no exact date announced as of yet.
Read also: Microsoft’s New Game Program Will Help Disabled Players: Expect More Accessible Titles!
ESports And Its Inherently Inclusive Nature
With this tournament, Logitech and its partners are aiming to showcase that disabled players also possess incredible gaming skills, much like any other able-bodied gamer out there. And the event will serve as a platform for these gamers to show the world what they can do. In fact, some may argue that the tournament will be a beacon for what ESports actually stands for.
When competitive gaming was in its early years, a lot of people brushed it aside. They thought of ESPorts as merely a niche event, saying that it’s not as exciting or worth watching as actual athletics. But in fact, ESports itself is supposed to be the most inclusive form of competition there is.
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KETTERING, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 12: Streamer “Ryew101” sits at the Scan Streamer Booth on day three of the epicLAN esport tournament at the Kettering Conference Centre, on October 12, 2019 in Kettering, England. EpicLAN events see between 32 and 700 networked players compete against each other for cash prizes and trophies. With gamers taking part in networked tournaments of Battalion 1944, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Rainbow Six:Siege, Rocket League, Starcraft 2 and others, the prize funds varied from £1000 to £15000.
You don’t need to be extremely athletic to join, compete, and earn recognition for your skills. To reach the top of the ladder in competitive gaming, you don’t need to be a very specific type of person. All it takes is practice, patience, and a whole lot of in-game dying while you work your way up the ranks.
An Industry-Wide Effort For Accessibility
In recent years, many big-name companies in the gaming industry have been adding accessibility options to their products. Whether it’s a game or a controller, it doesn’t matter: again, it plays to the inclusive nature of ESports.
Microsoft is one of these companies, who released a game titled ReCore back in 2016. The game had options for colorblind gamers, which while a small step back then, is still a great start. Now, there are even more options for disabled fans that want to play games from in-game graphics options to special control setups.
What’s Next?
With the way things are going right now, there is hope that adaptive ESports will become a thing the same way that events such as the Paralympics did. Competitive gaming is no longer just a niche market. It’s a full-blown multi-million dollar industry. Imagine how much business a company can miss out on just by ignoring video game accessibility entirely.
Related: Sony is Patenting Something That Will Help Gamers IMPROVE Their Skills: Is This Your Way Into PRO Gaming?
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Written by RJ Pierce
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