Xbox Adaptive Controller: Why Phil Spencer greenlit the accessibility project

Microsoft unveiled its Xbox Adaptive Controller today, an accessory for the game console for those with limited mobility to play games. It makes games accessible to a wider audience, and that’s what drew the attention of Xbox head Phil Spencer, who was ultimately responsible for greenlighting the project.

The controller enables people who don’t have thumbs, fingers, limbs, or good motor control to plug in alternatives that they can control. And that enables them to play games on the Xbox One consoles that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to play. There are as many as a billion people with disabilities in the world, and even more who are sometimes temporarily disabled (like those with broken arms), and the Xbox Adaptive Controller is built in a way that allows them to create their own custom solutions for playing games.