As news broke that Microsoft would block an unspecified array of third-party devices from Xbox consoles in late 2023, it quickly became clear the decision would disproportionately affect disabled gamers. Despite the benefit of time, the actual scope of the change remains uncertain, even as third-party devices continue to be unilaterally blocked.
“It’s certainly not an unprecedented move,” says Laura Kate Dale, an accessibility critic and consultant, “it’s basically already the case on Nintendo and PlayStation consoles, but it will undoubtedly reduce the number of options available to players.”
This was underlined when news broke that Sony had quietly blocked the Cronus Zen from connecting to PlayStation 5 consoles in a new update this week. It’s a device many disabled players use to connect more accessible input devices to their consoles, many of whom are left in limbo on both Sony and Microsoft consoles. It means that setups dependent on unlicensed devices are now rendered useless and investment wasted by unfocussed and unfair bans on anything Microsoft and Sony deem unauthorised.
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