XDefiant Accessibility Spotlight
news.ubisoft.comXDefiant is launching on May 21, bringing fast-paced multiplayer gunfights to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The free-to-play shooter launches with five different game modes, 14 maps, and 24 weapons with 44 attachments, meaning players have a lot of options when it comes to what to play. The development team at Ubisoft San Francisco is also ensuring that players have options when it comes to how to play. We spoke with CeeCee Smith, XDefiant's associate director of live operations, to learn how they're working with the community to support XDefiant's accessibility efforts long after the game launches.
How does the XDefiant's design philosophy overlap with the team's approach to accessibility?
CeeCee Smith: Although XDefiant is a fast-paced first-person arcade shooter, that shouldn't limit the team's capability to provide a thoroughly accessible experience for our players. That said, the team is mindful when it comes to game design. The game is being developed, in part, from player feedback. From now to launch and beyond, we intend to continue our philosophy of listening to our community and how we can make improvements to the game - and that includes receiving feedback from our accessibility community as well.
Where did the team start when designing for accessibility? How does XDefiant compare to other games in the genre?
CS: Ubisoft San Francisco has some strong advocates for accessibility. We had the opportunity to hear about how the team at Rocksmith+ approached accessibility in a thoughtful, holistic way, and even though we're creating two completely different games, it was really inspiring. In-studio collaboration along with research on the advances being made in games was really the starting point for us.
We know
