Microsoft has updated its Xbox Accessibility Guidelines (XAG) to promote inclusive practices in the gaming industry. The list includes ways developers can reduce barriers for disabled gamers, from input device support to UI tweaks, and has been improved with feedback from Microsoft's gaming and disabled community. Additionally, developers can send their Xbox and PC games to Microsoft for analysis and validation of the XAG specification.

There is a ton of information in the guidelines to help developers begin to make their games (or others) more accessible. Topics include game difficulty, voice reading, voice customization, screen narration, and more. You can check out the full list here.

The latest version includes improvements and updates to make the guidelines even more useful and even more digestible for busy developers. These updates include:

But perhaps most importantly, developers can have their games approved for compliance with the XAG standard (and if not) by those most familiar with the guidelines: Microsoft's Game Accessibility Team.

"Developers can now send their Xbox or PC titles to Microsoft to be analyzed and verified against the recommendations in the XAGs. If problems are found, reproduction instructions, screenshots, and other information will be included to help developers understand which aspects of a particular experience may be challenging for gamers with specific disabilities."

"The XAGs process is a very simple one.

The report produced from this process will also endorse other non-profit organizations, experts, and documentation to promote improved accessibility.

Sounds like a big step in the right direction for a more practical approach to accessibility in gaming.