Electronic Arts added eight more patents to its Accessibility First patent promise, including capture assist technology, speech and audio generation tools, and improvements to text size and the Fonttik contrast tool.
One of the patents is “Intent-Based Models for Use in Action Selection in Video Games (Grapple Assist),” which is featured in EA Sports UFC.
The tool “simplifies transitions and grip control by automatically detecting and selecting the best transition based on a single player's actions,” which “can help make gameplay more accessible by minimizing cognitive effort and fine motor demands.”
The patents also include advances in speech and sound generation. These are Expressive Speech Sound Generation, Robust Speech Sound Generation, and Speech Prosody Prediction.
“For players with speech impairments or those who prefer or need assistance in expressing themselves orally, these technologies provide greater control and creativity over how they communicate, including through clearer, more authentic speech,” EA explained.
“These technologies also increase the accessibility of the game by allowing speech to be added to events that would otherwise have no voice at all, creating narrative and feedback that is more personalized, interesting and easier for players to understand.”
As for Fonttik's text size and contrast tool, EA has made new additions to the technology publicly available, including filters to simulate colorblindness.
“Our goal over the last five years has been to create a more accessible gaming experience for everyone, no matter how or where they play, and to open up video games to as wide an audience as possible,” said EA Senior Vice President of Global Affairs Kerry Hopkins.
“We hope that by making these patents and technologies available to the broader industry, covering areas such as light sensitivity analysis and color blindness correction, we can collectively reach more players.”
Accessibility First Patent Pledge launched in 2021, during which EA shared five previously protected tools for make them free for developers and publishers.
EA continues to expand its patent offerings, sharing six new tools in 2022, followed by four more in February 2024 And 23 patents in December.
In total, the company has given developers and publishers free access to 46 patents that they can use to create games.
