“Our aim for Project Leonardo is that it enables many more players to enjoy the remarkable games that PlayStation Studios and our development community are creating for PS5,” Ryan says. “Millions of gamers play games to escape into a fun experience, build new friendships, or hang out together. The opportunity to make gaming accessible to more players is something all of us at SIE are incredibly passionate about.”

The collaboration between disabled individuals and PlayStation is also indicative of the industry’s commitment to furthering accessibility. Project Leonardo shares similarities with Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller. On Xbox and Windows systems, players can activate a feature called Copilot, allowing them to connect two controllers that act as a single device. For physically disabled players who struggle to reach certain inputs or even press specific buttons, the opportunity to choose is crucial. In a press release, a Sony Interactive Entertainment spokesperson explained the mechanics behind PlayStation’s version of Copilot:

Project Leonardo “can be used as a stand-alone controller or paired with additional Project Leonardo or DualSense wireless controllers. Up to two Project Leonardo controllers and one DualSense wireless controller can be used together as a single virtual controller, allowing players to mix and match devices to fit their particular gameplay needs or to play collaboratively with others. For example, players can augment their…