EA “5 types of accessibility-related patented technologies to be opened for free”

Electronic Arts (EA) has released its Accessibility First Patent Pledge, making it clear that it will grant free access to accessibility-related patents and technologies to other game developers.

These efforts include systems that help players with speech, hearing, and cognitive impairments communicate with other players. An example is the ping system used in the popular battle royale FPS game Apex Legends.

The Apex Legends ping system examines network path responsiveness and stability to indicate a specific location on the screen that an enemy is here when playing multiplayer instead of ping, or where to go on the map. Because the character conveys the purpose through voice, detailed communication such as finding a specific item can be conducted without using voice chat. Apex Legend is also equipped with a setting item to make it easier for the blind person to distinguish between images and items with the same brightness and color, and an automatic image processing system accordingly.

Other patented technologies include Madden NFL, the technology used in the FIFA series to assist players with vision problems. The system automatically detects colors during the game and automatically changes the brightness and contrast to make it easier to see. It also includes a technology related to hearing that supports players with hearing problems by changing the music according to their taste.

Because EA absorbs player sounds, so far, accessibility issues have been raised or requested for improvement. This move can be said to be an extension of these efforts. EA said its mission is to incentivize gameplay in the world, and while it has long been working to break gaming barriers, it is necessary to work together across the industry to drive meaningful change.

Of course, patented technology is a means of protecting ownership and guaranteeing a developer’s or inventor’s idea. If you want others to use it, you need a promise, such as paying a license fee and not making unauthorized changes. However, EA also emphasized that although its approach to accessibility is to make the technology available to everyone, it uses the term license, but does not sue for the use of third-party technology.

In addition to the five technologies announced by EA this time (patent numbers US11097189, US10118097, CN107694092, US10878540, US10790919), several patents are likely to be added to this effort. In addition, the source code of technical solutions to solve color blindness, brightness, and contrast problems is also disclosed on GitHub. Related information can be found here.