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Game Makers Battle to Boost Accessibility for Players With Disabilities
Gamers with special needs are the new front for companies in the competitive $150 billion industry.
Sony PlayStation 4controllers
Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
As a kid growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Randy Fitzgerald couldn’t make friends by playing sports. He was born with arthrogryposis, a muscle and joint disorder that made activities like soccer or baseball out of the question. Over time, he discovered another powerful way to bond with his peers — video games.
These days, Fitzgerald, 41, is a renowned gamer, known in the pro community as N0M4D. Since his arms and legs have limited mobility, he plays by using his upper lip and chin. When he’s not competing, he also consults with video-game companies on ways to improve their products for players with special needs.