PlayStation has unveiled Project Leonardo, a new accessibility controller kit which is currently in development for PlayStation 5.
First revealed during CES 2023 and followed up with an announcement on the PlayStation Blog, the new kit is designed to “remove barriers to gaming and help players with disabilities play more easily, more comfortably, and for longer periods on PlayStation 5.” Sony has also confirmed that Project Leonardo’s development is a collaboration between game developers, accessibility experts and community members.
The kit itself will include swappable components, including stick caps and buttons in a range of sizes and shapes. Players will be able to customise their gaming experience via button mapping, with the choice of being able to map two functions to the same button on the device. The PlayStation 5 will also include up to three control profiles, allowing players to set up multiple options for preferred settings in different games and be able to switch between them.
Players will have the option of using Project Leonardo on its own or pairing the device with an additional Project Leonardo device or DualSense controller. Third-party external devices will also be compatible via four 3.5mm AUX ports.
No release window or pricing information was included in the announcement, as the project is still in active development. The project is seen as being PlayStation’s latest step to include more accessibility options for PlayStation 5, following the additions of several accessibility options in recent gaming releases including God of War: Ragnarök and The Last of Us Part 1 remake.
Watch the reveal trailer for Project Leonardo below.
Words by Megan Roxburgh
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