Steam Deck & Big Picture Mode Get Accessibility Boost: UI Scaling, Screen Reader & More!
Great news for Steam Deck and Big Picture Mode users! Valve is rolling out a beta update packed with new accessibility features. Following last week's addition of accessibility tags for browsing games, this update focuses on making the Steam interface itself more user-friendly.
Accessibility Features on Steam
One of the most welcome additions is UI scaling. Now, you can adjust the size of text, making it easier to read on smaller screens or from a distance. I know I'll appreciate this, especially when I'm gaming on the go!
In addition, a high contrast mode has been implemented. This feature enhances the visibility of text, buttons, and icons, ensuring they stand out against the background. A simple, but very effective change, right?
For those sensitive to motion, a reduce motion option is also available. This setting minimizes animations and transitions, providing a more comfortable viewing experience by reducing on-screen movement.
SteamOS Specific Features
SteamOS users get even more love with a range of color filters. These include grayscale, which converts the entire display to black and white, and invert brightness, which cleverly inverts the display brightness while preserving colors. Finally, there is a straight-up invert colors option, inverting all the display colors. These apply to both SteamOS and any running games!
Moreover, a screen reader has been added to SteamOS. This feature reads aloud the currently focused item, with customizable pitch, speed, and volume. Really useful stuff!
It's fantastic to see Valve prioritizing accessibility not just in games, but also in the hardware and interfaces we use to play them. If you have feedback or suggestions, you can share them in the accessibility thread, as Valve is actively seeking input from players with disabilities.
Source: Rock Paper Shotgun