Hey gamers, I’m Dave Lockman, lead designer on the upcoming Moving Out 2 game. At SMG Studio, we firmly believe that video games should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, ability, or skill. That’s why we’ve designed Moving Out 2 from the ground up with a plethora of accessibility options and design decisions, building on the success of the first game.
Assist Mode
One of the accessibility features we’re carrying over from the first game is Assist Mode. This mode includes a variety of settings that players can use to tailor their experience. For example, players can extend time limits, lighten heavier objects, or even make objects disappear on delivery. If you encounter a challenging level, you can also skip it without worrying about losing progress. These settings can be adjusted at any time, allowing you to fine-tune your gameplay experience.
Quality of Life Accessibility
Quality of Life (QoL) Accessibility encompasses features that modern games should include by default. In Moving Out 2, we’re introducing fully remappable game controllers and keyboards to increase compatibility with various peripherals and controllers. We’ve also implemented a hold control toggle, so you only need to press a button once to grab and release objects, making the gameplay smoother for those who have difficulty holding buttons or triggers. Other QoL features include the ability to change to a dyslexia-friendly font and adjust subtitles and screen shake levels.
Art & Design
We’ve also focused on art and design to increase accessibility. One significant decision is to label key mechanics and rooms with various visual shapes instead of relying on colors, making the game more playable for those with colorblindness. The labeling also adds a cool aesthetic to the game. To help alleviate motion sickness, we’ve reduced the motion in dynamic levels’ moving parts. We’ve also employed flyovers at the start of each level to visually explain how to tackle the level without relying on text, making it easier for everyone to understand.
Moving Out 2 is coming soon to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, and we can’t wait to share it with you. We’re proud of the accessibility features we’ve implemented and hope it helps everyone to enjoy the game regardless of their abilities. Let’s get packing!
Moving Out 2 Team17 ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★
For those unfamiliar with the game, Moving Out 2 is a hilarious, physics-based moving simulator. You can play solo or with friends, helping the residents of Packmore and beyond pack up and move out! With local and online multiplayer, new adventure stages, fresh characters, and oodles of character customization options, it’s accessible to everyone.