Ubisoft has launched an open-source tool designed to assist developers in adapting games for players with color blindness.

Ubisoft has introduced Chroma, an open source software designed to integrate color blindness filters directly into games in real time. This tool aids developers in making games more accessible to players with visual impairments.

The tool was developed by Ubisoft's Quality Control team based in India and was unveiled at the recent Game Accessibility Conference. The project has been ongoing since 2021, with the aim of assisting developers in designing and testing games that are accessible to individuals with color vision deficiencies.

Ubisoft guarantees that the application of Chroma's filters does not degrade game performance. It accommodates the three main types of color blindness: Protanopia, Deuteranopia, and Tritanopia. Impressively, Chroma is compatible with all game engines and is not restricted to any specific one. Approximately 300 million people globally are affected by color blindness.

Product Manager Jawad Shakil explained, "Chroma was conceived to make integrating color blindness accessibility an intrinsic part of both the creative and testing phases." He highlighted the hurdles faced, such as ensuring real-time performance and identifying the most effective algorithm for Chroma.

Through collaboration with accessibility experts and iterative improvements based on their feedback, the team created a tool that excels in eliminating delays and inaccuracies, thus streamlining the testing process.

As an open source project, Chroma aims to empower developers to prioritize accessibility in game development, encouraging industry-wide adaptation and improvement.

David Tisserand, Ubisoft's Director of Accessibility, expressed, "Our goal is for everyone to take advantage of it, share their insights, and assist in its evolution."

Chroma can be accessed and downloaded from GitHub.