Despite various woes in both the gaming hardware and software department, one place where Microsoft has always been the undisputed leader in gaming (in my opinion) is when it comes to accessibility.
The original Xbox Adaptive Controller was a revelation, and it took years for either Sony or (sort of) Nintendo to bother creating an equivalent solution. Thanks to that adaptive controller, thousands of players with various disabilities could find a control solution that would let them enjoy their favorite games. Now, I’m pleased to see Microsoft is expanding that toolkit with the Xbox Adaptive Joystick.
The New Adaptive Joystick Fills an Important Gap in Accessibility
The existing Xbox Adaptive Controller is a fantastic device. It’s affordable, and most importantly it allows you to connect just about any device to it, which allows someone to get a very customized control scheme that fits their level of mobility and motor control perfectly. However, those external peripherals have largely been left to third parties to provide. Often made essentially from scratch.
Xbox
Some people used third-party generic Wii-style Nunchucks, and there are also mods to allow original Wii Nunchuck controllers to connect to the Adaptive Controller. However, supply and availability are always up in the air. If you go on r/disabledgamers you’ll see discussions about converting Nunchucks for disabled players who have good use of the thumb in one hand, for example, but can’t use a standard gamepad.
So it seems like the Xbox Adaptive Joystick offers an official, purpose-built device to make these DIY hacks unnecessary. It’s long overdue perhaps, but still very welcome to see.
Microsoft
The controller has the same number of buttons as the left side of a standard controller, but a different shape and size. It has a screw thread for easy mounting, and you can remap all of its buttons to any other button you like. When plugged into an Xbox (or a PC) the Adaptive Joystick can be paired with any standard Xbox controller and work in unison.
It Combines With the Adaptive Controller Seamlessly
The best thing about the adaptive controller is that you can just plug it directly into one of the USB ports on an adaptive controller, and it will just integrate into the existing setup. All you have to do is sort out the mapping for the joystick relative to all the other stuff you have hooked up to it, and you should be good to go.
The Thumbstick Toppers Open Endless Possibilities
The other main selling feature of the adaptive joystick is the stick-topper system. Microsoft offers a range of 3D-printable files for various toppers the company has designed to allow for the widest variety of people to comfortable use the controller.
Microsoft
So if you need to operate the stick with your chin, a toe, or the remnant of a limb, there’s probably a topper that will make that comfortable. It also means that you or a specialist can design your own toppers, print them, and get the most optimized experience.
Microsoft
You can also make toppers that will fit on standard Xbox controllers, so that you can get a combination of control surfaces between the two devices that works for you. Microsoft provides topper design software so that just about anyone can make a custom design without specialist knowledge. Besides, 3D printing is so fast and cheap, you can afford to iterate and tweak things in the Xbox Design Lab until you have the topper that’s just right for you.
That’s a lot of flexibility, and although you can only buy the Xbox Adaptive Joystick from the Xbox Store, $30 is such a reasonable price and there’s so much flexibility on offer here, that I think just about anyone who needs one can afford one.
Sony and Nintendo Need to Step Up
So far, there hasn’t been an official accessible controller from Nintendo at all, but there’s an officially licensed controller by Hori called the Flex. It’s quite similar to the Xbox Adaptive Controller in functionality, but it’s more than twice as expensive, which isn’t great.
Hori
Then there’s the PlayStation 5 Access controller, which is pretty ingenious in design and costs a few dollars less than the Xbox Adaptive Controller, so I’ll give Sony its flowers here, even though it took them many years to actually get a product out to their players.
That said, I wouldn’t want to see Sony call it a day with this and sit idle for years. There’s still scope for more accessories and devices for the expansion ports on the Access controller that could help even more people enjoy a PlayStation.
Whether it’s Microsoft, Sony, or (maybe eventually) Nintendo, we can all agree that more control options are a good thing. Cheaper, better quality, and more versatile is the name of the game. If you know someone who could use one of these devices, it’s also a great time to make them aware that there are more options than ever for anyone to play.
