GDC 2025 Session Viewer

In this session, Colby Morgan, Technical Director at Mighty Coconut, and Jazmin, Senior Accessibility Product Manager at Owlchemy Labs, share their experiences designing and developing accessible VR games. They showcase key accessibility features from Walkabout Mini Golf and Dimensional Double Shift, including customizable player height, one-handed play, visual aids, and motion adjustments. The discussion emphasizes designing with accessibility from day one, integrating user feedback through ongoing playtesting, and overcoming technical challenges to deliver inclusive gameplay experiences. Attendees will gain insights into balancing performance with accessibility, simplifying complex interactions, and implementing intuitive guidance systems. This session highlights the importance of accessibility as a continual process, demonstrating how both games have evolved to meet the needs of players with disabilities, offering practical takeaways for building more inclusive VR experiences.

Takeaway

Attendees will learn how to integrate accessibility from day one in VR game development, with concrete examples from Walkabout Mini Golf and Dimensional Double Shift. They'll gain insights on balancing performance with accessibility, simplifying interactions for one-handed play, and using user feedback to refine accessible features post-launch.

Intended Audience

This session is aimed at game developers, designers, and team leads interested in accessibility in XR. Attendees will benefit from learning practical strategies for implementing inclusive design, regardless of prior accessibility experience. No prerequisite knowledge is required, though familiarity with VR game development and user-centered design principles is helpful.