With Firewalk Studios’ vibrant new FPS multiplayer Concord set to launch soon on PS5 and PC for players everywhere, a sneak peek at the game’s various accessibility features has been revealed. Principal Gameplay Designer Prof Brown discusses the development cycle and what we can expect on day one.
PS5 and Xbox Series X/S Accessibility Features Explained
Brown emphasizes that developing a game like Concord that is exciting “and has something that as many people as possible can enjoy” was a priority throughout the process, rather than an afterthought. In other words, the gameplay and everything in between was carefully designed around the goal of absolute accessibility for all players, rather than creating the entire game first and then adding tacked-on accessibility features at the end.
This is most notably reflected in the way each of Concord’s playable characters has been developed, particularly in terms of their combat abilities. For example, Lark’s weapon doesn’t require precise aim or direct line of sight to hit a target; it fires a large projectile that breaks up into smaller homing projectiles that then seek out the enemy. Jabali’s arsenal emphasizes a similar function, while Daw and Kyps prioritize team support over combat. When necessary, however, their weapons will employ burst fire, which also doesn’t require absolute accuracy.
Other particularly appealing features include a dynamic map ping system that players can use to manually locate key locations during a match, marking where enemies are or where they should group up defensively. Even better, a “directional vibration” function and character voiceover further enhance this interactive tool.