In a significant stride towards inclusive game development, Ubisoft has released its internal colourblind simulation tool, UbiChroma, for public use. This move underscores the company’s growing commitment to accessibility, a commitment recently highlighted by Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’s win in the “Innovation in Accessibility” category at the Game Awards 2024. Furthermore, Star Wars Outlaws, another Ubisoft title, was also named in the same category. Again, further solidifying their dedication.
Since its internal development in 2021, this open-source tool allows developers to accurately copy the visual experience of colourblind players. As David Tisserand, Director of Accessibility at Ubisoft, explains,
“Over the past few years, Chroma has proven to be a highly efficient tool for us… We’re thrilled to share Chroma with the entire industry.”
UbiChroma helps in mimicing different types of colour blindness commonly found in society, primarily focusing on the three major forms: Protanopia, Deuteranopia, and Tritanopia. The main purpose is to aid Ubisoft’s accessibility teams in performing complex testing across their diverse game portfolio. This open-source tool applies a filter over the game screen without hindering performance, making it usable for cloud gaming on your PC.
Key features of UbiChroma:
- Colour Simulation on a Single Monitor: Operates on top of the game and can be maximised as needed.
- Universal Game Compatibility: Functions independently of specific games or engines.
- High Performance: Supports live gameplay simulation up to 60 FPS.
- Accurate Results: Provides reliable colourblindness simulations.
- Comprehensive Simulation: Encompasses all types of colour blindness.
- Live Screen Capture & Simulation: The only solution capable of simulating live gameplay.
- Easy Error Logging: Features simple screenshot functionality.
- User-Friendly Interface: Offers an easy and configurable UI.
QC Product Manager Jawad Shakil highlights the tool’s impact:
“Chroma was created with a clear purpose—making colour blindness accessibility a natural part of the creative and testing process… Open-sourcing Chroma is a proud step forward, allowing everyone to benefit from this innovation.”
By making UbiChroma available to the wider development community, Ubisoft is actively promoting more inclusive game design for the estimated 300 million people affected by colour blindness worldwide.
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