Steam Access

Accessibility Widget for the Steam · Desktop Client Added Feature

A platform-wide accessibility hub designed to improve discoverability, customization, and inclusive gaming experiences on Steam.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Problem

Steam is one of the largest PC gaming platforms in the world, yet accessibility support is largely fragmented and inconsistent. Most accessibility options exist at the individual game level, making them difficult to find, compare, or trust before purchase. Steam also lacks platform-wide tools such as scalable text, color vision filters, screen reader support, and clear controller compatibility labeling.

As a result, players with disabilities, and those experiencing temporary or situational impairments, often rely on trial-and-error, external forums, or third-party tools to determine whether a game is playable.

The Opportunity / Solution

Steam Access introduces a centralized Accessibility Widget embedded directly into the Steam desktop experience. The widget enables users to:

• Discover accessibility features before purchasing games

• Customize visual and input settings at the platform level

• Save and reuse accessibility profiles

• Rely on community-driven accessibility feedback

By treating accessibility as a core platform feature rather than an afterthought, Steam Access reduces friction while preserving familiar Steam workflows.

Outcome (Conceptual)

This project demonstrates how accessibility can be thoughtfully integrated into an existing, complex product ecosystem—improving usability for players with disabilities, while also benefiting casual users, players with temporary impairments, and those seeking comfort-focused features.

RESEARCH

Research Goals

• Understand accessibility challenges users face when navigating Steam

• Identify gaps in discoverability, customization, and consistency

• Learn how players evaluate accessibility before purchasing games

Secondary Research – Competitive Analysis

I reviewed accessibility standards and analyzed how major gaming platforms support accessibility at the system level. This comparison focused on platform-wide features, discoverability, and consistency, rather than individual game settings.

This analysis highlighted a clear gap between console ecosystems, which offer centralized accessibility tools, and PC-first platforms, where accessibility is often fragmented or game-dependent. These gaps reinforced the need for a centralized, platform-level accessibility solution within Steam.

Primary Research – User Interviews & Research Synthesis

I conducted five in-depth interviews with gamers aged 26–43, including players with visual impairments, motor limitations, temporary injuries, and accessibility advocates. Using affinity mapping, I identified three key clusters that directly informed the Tritanopia task flow and visual accessibility design.

DEFINE

Personas

Three personas were drafted to represent a range of accessibility needs across Steam. While each persona informed the broader problem space, the vision-supportive gamer most directly guided design decisions—shaping the focus on color contrast, visual clarity, and platform-level accessibility settings.

Problem Framing

Research findings were translated into focused How Might We questions, including:

• Visual Accessibility
  How might we help gamers with low vision browse Steam independently?
  How might we support users who need high contrast or larger text without overwhelming the interface?

• Inclusive Defaults & Onboarding
  How might we allow users to configure and save accessibility settings before gameplay?

  
  

Key Task Flows

Two task flows were initially explored to support both visual and physical accessibility needs. Based on research findings and project scope, the flow for adjusting color and contrast for Tritanopia was selected and adapted as the primary design focus, as it best demonstrated how a platform-level accessibility feature could improve discoverability, clarity, and user confidence within Steam’s existing interface.

DESIGN

Mid-Fidelity Exploration

Mid-fidelity wireframes focused on information hierarchy, discoverability, and integration within Steam’s existing desktop interface. Early exploration tested where an Accessibility Widget could live without disrupting established navigation patterns.

Usability Testing & High-Fidelity Design

Seven mid-fidelity screens were tested with the original five research participants. Testing evaluated:

• Discoverability of the Accessibility Widget

• Clarity of color vision deficiency presets

• Confidence when previewing and applying visual changes

Steam Access integrates platform-wide accessibility controls directly into the Steam desktop experience, allowing users to discover and customize visual settings without leaving the homepage.

Preview of the Steam interface as experienced by users with Tritanopia, followed by the adjusted color configuration designed to improve contrast, clarity, and readability

Participants responded positively to the centralized menu, and usability testing informed refinements such as saveable accessibility profiles, custom hex color inputs, and clearer prompts and labels to improve clarity and user control.

Iterations

Based on usability findings, I iterated to improve clarity and control:

FINAL SOLUTION

Key Features

• Platform-wide Accessibility Menu

• Accessibility tag filters for game discovery

• Color vision deficiency presets with live previews

• Saveable accessibility profiles

• Community-driven accessibility reviews

Experience Overview

Users can preview how the Steam interface appears with specific visual impairments, apply accessible color adjustments, save settings, and revert changes with confidence. The experience prioritizes clarity, control, and trust without overwhelming users.

IMPACT & REFLECTION

Outcomes

• All participants successfully completed core tasks after minor orientation

• Average satisfaction rating of 4.1 / 5

• Increased confidence once accessibility features were located and applied

• Strong validation for centralized, platform-level accessibility

Key Learnings

This project reinforced that accessibility must be designed at the system level—not added game by game. It also highlighted the importance of balancing flexibility with simplicity to avoid cognitive overload in accessibility-focused interfaces.

Future Opportunities

• Expanded presets for motor and cognitive accessibility

• Voice navigation for hands-free interaction

• Accessibility-focused game curation and recommendations

WHY THIS MATTERS

Steam Access illustrates how inclusive design can scale within an established platform. By embedding accessibility directly into the core desktop experience, Steam has the opportunity to support a broader range of players, build trust, and set a higher standard for accessibility in PC gaming.

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