Summary
Tekken 8is implementing a host of features intended to help colorblind gamers, but instead has garnered controversy from some disabled players.Bandai Namco released aTekken 8demo earlier in December, giving gamers the chance to try out some of its new features. One of the features that was under the radar until fans tried out the free demo was the implementation of filters designed to help players who are colorblind.
The industry has been pushing for more accessibility features in gaming, with these tools and features allowing for easier navigation and differentiation of on-screen information. For example,Spider-Man 2’s accessibility featuresinclude the ability to disable uncomfortable sounds or display on-screen captions with audio descriptions. InTekken 8’s case, its filters are meant to help make the on-screen action and menu UI elements clearer. However, the implementation of these filters has been criticized by some members of the disabled community.
The first footage and screenshots ofTekken 8’s new filters werefirst posted by Twitter user SJS | Gatterall, who shared a brief match with the filter activated, which had an uncolored background and horizontal and vertical black lines over its characters to clarify who is who. While some believed this to be a great feature, Electronic Arts' Game Accessibility Lead, Morgan Baker, criticized how it actually made it hard to see. “Please stop tagging me in theTekken 8‘colorblind’ stripe filters,” she posted, “It’s already induced an aura migraine for me, and I can’t afford to get another one right now, or worse. Appreciate y’all.”
Another gaming accessibility consultant and advocate, Ian Hamilton, shared his thoughts on the newTekken 8filters, asking fans to stop sharing the video as it can cause photosensitive viewers harm. He also went into detail regarding the ineffectiveness of colorblind filters, stating that various sensitivities can’t be solved by applying a different filter, such as tritanopia or achromatopsia. Other users who viewed theTekken 8gameplay videoby Gatterall also cited similar concerns, receiving migraines or vertigo from viewing it for even a few seconds.
In response to the critiques,Tekken 8director and producer Katsuhiro Haradaposted on his Twitter account addressing the game’s accessibility options. In an extensive post, he noted that this colorblind mode had been in development beforeTekken 7, and that the developers had consulted with different research institutes and communities as well. Harada notes that the striped pattern isn’t the only accessibility filter in the game, stating that there are multiple options to choose from. Harada closes his post by saying that while the team received positive feedback from demo players, he understands that this option does not address all players in the world who have certain color vision impairments.
Tekken 8
WHERE TO PLAY
Tekken 8 brings the fight to the latest generation of consoles, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Feel the power of every hit in Tekken 8, the latest entry in the legendary fighting game franchise from Bandai Namco. Utilising the power and realism of Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 pushes the envelope for fighting games by taking full advantage of the power of the latest generation of consoles. Ground-breaking new features, breathtakingly detailed character models and dramatic environments make this one of the most visually stunning and immersive titles in the genre yet. Tekken 8 picks up after the gruesome battle that ended in Heihachi Mishima’s defeat in Tekken 7, focusing on a new rivalry, pitting father against son as Jin Kazama stands in defiance against Kazuya Mishima in a city-shattering face-to-face showdown.
