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Microsoft has confirmed development of a new addition to the Xbox family of peripherals: The Xbox Adaptive Controller, designed specifically to aid gamers with limited mobility.
The device has been developed as a collaborative effort alongside various gaming charities, including SpecialEffect, an organisation that caters to helping those with disabilities enjoy video games.
According to Xbox boss Phil Spencer, the two large buttons featured on the pad are fully reprogrammable, so that users can map them to any of the standard controller's input buttons by using the Xbox Accessories app. The team's goal was to manufacture something that's 'as adaptable as possible,' while remaining both 'extensible and affordable.'
Microsoft has set a US price of $99.99 for the Xbox Adaptive Controller, which will be up for grabs exclusively through the company's online store. Details on the UK release have yet to be confirmed, however.
'Our experience in helping people with complex physical disabilities to access video games has enabled us to provide not only very relevant advice about features and design, but also direct feedback from a user-centred perspective. Microsoft have a product here that has the potential to help many people globally to enjoy the magic of video games,' said Dr Mick Donegan, founder of SpecialEffect.
The format holder also revealed that it's working closely with third-party developers to enable support for various other external inputs, which can be plugged directly into the new pad. These include the One-Handed Joystick from PDP, the Extreme 3D Pro Joystick from Logitech, and Quadstick's Game Controller.
You can check out a video detailing the Xbox Adaptive Controller below.
