Ubisoft launches the free app Chroma to improve the accessibility of video games

Ubisoft has announced the public availability of Chroma, a tool designed to help developers create video games accessible to people with color blindness, after several years of internal development.

This advance highlights the company’s commitment to promoting inclusion in the video game industry, where it is estimated that 1 in 12 men (8%) and 1 in 200 women (0.5%) suffer from some form of color blindness, according to the nonprofit organization Colour Blind Awareness.

Chroma allows developers to replicate the experience of colorblind players in real time by applying a filter over the screen without affecting game performance.

Ubisoft encourages developers to use Chroma to improve accessibility for colorblind individuals

Unlike other tools that require static images or specific configurations, Chroma makes it easy to monitor games while they are actually being played, thus providing immediate and meaningful feedback.

The tool is compatible with multiple screens and offers customization options, in addition to allowing control through shortcut keys.

According to David Tisserand, accessibility director at Ubisoft, Chroma has proven to be effective in assessing the accessibility of their games for colorblind players, allowing for a much more agile and thorough analysis than in the past. “We believe that accessibility is a journey, not a race, and we are excited to share Chroma with the entire industry,” Tisserand stated.

Interested developers can access Chroma on its GitHub page, where it is published under the Apache 2.0 license. This license encourages collaborative development of open-source software products, allowing others to contribute to its continuous improvement.

Ubisoft encourages other developers to use this tool and join the initiative to make video games more accessible for everyone.