Good morning. It’s Monday, September 16. For years, gaming was inaccessible to many with physical disabilities. But today, companies like Microsoft, Sony, and Logitech are leading a revolution in inclusive design. In our feature story today we explore how new hardware and in-game features are transforming gaming, making it more accessible for everyone.
In other news, we cover the decline in The International Dota 2 Championships’ viewership, Nazara’s latest acquisition, and more.
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Breaking Barriers: How Gaming is Becoming More Inclusive for Players with Disabilities
For years, the gaming world was inaccessible to many players with physical limitations or disabilities. But today, that landscape is changing. The gaming industry is evolving, with leading companies like Microsoft, Sony, and Logitech pioneering innovations that make gaming more inclusive than ever. From Microsoft's Xbox Adaptive Controller to PlayStation’s Project Leonardo and Logitech's Adaptive Gaming Kit, hardware is being reimagined to cater to all players.
In our feature today, we explore how these cutting-edge devices, along with in-game accessibility features like customizable controls and colorblind modes, are transforming gaming for those with disabilities. We’ll dive into the latest trends in adaptive gaming and look at how emerging technologies such as virtual reality and haptic feedback are opening new doors.
Beyond the technology, this push for inclusion has important social and financial implications. Gaming isn’t just entertainment—it’s a lifeline for many, offering connection and community. As the industry breaks down barriers, it’s also unlocking a previously untapped market of loyal gamers. Join us as we explore how gaming is becoming a space where everyone can play, regardless of ability.
The International 2024 Draws 1.41 Million Peak Viewers, Sees Decline in Average Viewership
The International 2024, the marquee annual tournament for the popular online game Dota 2, concluded with 1.41 million peak concurrent viewers, a slight dip from the 1.44 million recorded at the 2023 event. Allegedly organized for the first time by esports production firm PGL, the competition also saw a notable decline in average concurrent viewers, which fell to 463.89 thousand from last year’s 541.24 thousand. Total watch time dropped to 54.23 million hours, down from 65.39 million in 2023.
Despite the drop in viewership, excitement remained high as Team Liquid claimed victory over Gaimin Gladiators in a lopsided Grand Finals, earning a $1.15 million prize. The win came as redemption for Team Liquid, which had previously finished as runners-up against Gaimin Gladiators in several key competitions over the past two years.
The viewership decline may be linked to a largely uncompetitive final phase, where only one of the last 10 matches was not a clean sweep, dampening the drama and excitement. As Dota 2 esports evolves, organizers and teams may face growing pressure to deliver more competitive and engaging content to retain audiences.
Quick Bytes
Nazara Technologies Acquires 47.7% Stake in PokerBaazi Parent Company
Indian gaming and sports media company Nazara Technologies has acquired a 47.7% stake in Moonshine Technology, the parent company of PokerBaazi, for INR 832 crores. An additional INR 150 crores will be injected via convertible preference shares. PokerBaazi, India’s largest online poker platform with 340,000 monthly active users, drives 85% of Moonshine’s revenue. Nazara’s CEO, Nitish Mittersain, highlighted the move as pivotal in strengthening Nazara’s leadership in gaming. PokerBaazi CEO Navkiran Singh emphasized the partnership’s potential to further develop India’s gaming sector and expand globally.
OpenAI’s President Highlights Dota in Unveiling o1’s Advanced Capabilities
OpenAI's newest artificial intelligence model, known as o1, has demonstrated a substantial improvement in performance, particularly in mastering the intricacies of complex strategy games like Dota. Greg Brockman, the President and Co-Founder of OpenAI, emphasized the model’s advanced reasoning abilities, which are honed through reinforcement learning. This process enables the AI to “think step by step,” leading to more refined decision-making.
“One way to think about this is that our models do System I thinking, while chains of thought unlock System II thinking. People have discovered a while ago that prompting the model to ‘think step by step’ boosts performance. But training the model to do this, end to end with trial and error, is far more reliable and — as we’ve seen with games like Go or Dota — can generate extremely impressive results,” he said.
Annapurna Interactive Staff Resigns Amid Failed Spin-Off Talks
The entire staff of Annapurna Interactive, including president Nathan Gary and key executives, resigned after failed negotiations to spin off the gaming division into an independent entity, following founder Megan Ellison’s decision to withdraw from the talks. The 25-member team confirmed their collective resignation in a statement, calling it one of their hardest decisions. Hector Sanchez, the newly appointed president, stated that the company will hire new staff and honor existing contracts. Ellison emphasized that Annapurna remains committed to supporting its game developers and expanding its presence in the interactive space across multiple media platforms.
AESF Partners with Shinhan University to Boost Esports Education
The Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) has announced a new partnership with South Korea's Shinhan University to enhance esports education and opportunities. Under the agreement, Shinhan students will compete in AESF-organized events and gain industry experience through voluntary work and placements. The collaboration also includes joint research on key industry issues, and Shinhan has introduced an esports management major focused on practical training.
Did You Know
Did you know that the controller for the 2002 Xbox game Steel Battalion is one of the most complex and unique video game controllers ever made? Designed to simulate the experience of piloting a giant mech in battle, this massive controller is three feet long and packed with features that mimic the controls of a real machine.
The controller includes two full-sized joysticks, allowing players to control the movement and targeting of their mech with precision. It also has three foot pedals for accelerating, braking, and shifting gears, adding another layer of immersion to the gameplay. On the panel, you’ll find an array of 40 buttons, each responsible for different functions like weapon systems, communications, and even ejecting from your mech if things go wrong.
In addition, there's a dial, lever, and various switches, all of which light up, helping to create an incredibly immersive, cockpit-like experience. It’s not just a game—it’s a full-fledged mech simulator, demanding full attention and skill from players to master.
Quote of the Day
from AFK Gaming https://ift.tt/6MlJjaL
Hello, my name is Jack Sparrow. I'm a 50 year old self-employed Pirate from the Caribbean.
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