Electronic Arts has added eight more patents to its Accessibility First Patent Pledge, including grapple assist technology, speech and audio generation tools, and improvements to its text size and contrast tool Fonttik.
One of the patents is ‘Intent-based Models for Use in Selecting Actions in Video Games (Grapple Assist)’, which is featured in EA Sports UFC.
This tool “simplifies grappling transitions and controls by automatically identifying and selecting the best transition from a single player input” which “can help make gameplay more accessible by minimising cognitive effort and fine motor demands.”
The patents also include advancements in speech and audio generation. These are ‘Expressive Speech Audio Generation’, ‘Robust Speech Audio Generation’, and ‘Speech Prosody Prediction’.
“For players with speech disorders or who prefer or need assistance with verbally expressing themselves, these technologies provide more control and creativity over the way they communicate, including through speech that is clearer and more authentic,” EA explained.
“These technologies also increase game accessibility by making it possible to add speech to experiences that would otherwise have no voice at all, creating narration and feedback that is more personalized, engaging and easier for players to understand.”
As for its text size and contrast tool Fonttik, EA has open sourced new additions to the technology which include colourblindness simulation filters.
“Our aim over the past five years has been to create more accessible gameplay experiences for everyone, no matter how or where they play, and open up video games to as wide an audience as possible,” said EA SVP of global affairs Kerry Hopkins.
“We hope that by making these patents and technologies available to the wider industry, covering areas like photosensitivity analysis and color blindness adjustments, we will collectively be able to reach more players.”
The Accessibility First Patent Pledge launched in 2021, during which EA shared five previously protected tools to make them freely available for developers and publishers.
EA has continued to extend its patent offerings, having shared six new tools in 2022 followed by four more in February 2024 and 23 patents that December.
Overall, the firm has made 46 free-to-use patents available for developers and publishers to utilise when making games.
