Tekken 8 is making strides in accessibility ahead of its launch on January 26th, with an update specifically addressing concerns about its color blind/visually impaired features. Following the release of a demo in December, a striped “Mask Filter” intended to aid players was flagged by accessibility experts and players alike for potentially causing migraines and even seizures.
As seen in a Twitter thread, Tekken developer Bandai Namco has replaced the striped filter with a new, more versatile option. The updated “Mask Filter” retains the full color of characters while applying two separate, adjustable patterns on top. These patterns can be subtly implemented or made more prominent according to player preference. Additionally, players can choose between a grayscale or black-and-white outline for the background, further enhancing fighter visibility.
The developer had already said that they had not revealed the full spectrum of accessibility features they had planned and that people were getting prematurely angry over something they had no idea about. Those people were, of course, wrong to get angry over not seeing the final features in a beta. I even saw accessibility ‘experts’ get involved in the anger, but it’s hard not to get angry when you think it’s not as accessible.
There are so many features for those who need them; it’s at another level. The developers absolutely did not have to do any of what we ended up getting. It’s up to the developer to decide what they add; players can just make requests, but this shows how far Bandai Namco wanted to go for their players. The developers have shown that any fighting game can go this far by offering alternative options while removing potentially harmful elements.
Hopefully, we’ll see more of this inclusion in the future because while it is ultimately up to the developer, it really helps those who need it.
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