The gaming sector has been on quite a ride since the pandemic started. Accessibility was very much at the forefront, with studios promising big to create a more universal gaming experience. But as budgets are cut and studios reduce their ambitions, a lot of that energy is dissipating. Meanwhile, the rest of the tech world is struggling with a skills shortage, forcing firms to reconsider how they find and nurture talent, not only technical prowess, but human ability as well. Here’s a glimpse at how both worlds are changing—and why it matters.
When Gaming Accessibility Stalled
Early in the pandemic, video game accessibility was finally making strides. Big games were raising the bar, and there was an optimistic feeling that this change was going to last. But behind the scenes, the narrative shifted. When studios reduce their staff, accessibility specialists and consultants tend to be the first to go. Those who are left are having their budgets cut and struggling just to maintain fundamental features in development.
Another accessibility advocate explained that the projects began to get canceled with minimal explanation, and active projects had to explain even the most basic accessibility tools. What felt like a budding career industry is now filled with uncertainty, with many just trying to maintain the progress already established.
To compound the issue, media coverage surrounding accessibility—once a key agent of awareness—has fallen off. Discussions that formerly focused on innovative features have become scarce, and the subject is only brought up in the intermittent disputes over game difficulty or UI design. Without that torch-bearing, studios are less motivated to continue investing in new features, regardless of their worth to players.
Loss of Expertise and the Increase of Short-Term Contracts
The more consultants who depart from the field, the more their accumulated knowledge typically goes with them. Studios may keep on implementing accessibility features, but the more profound insight into why they are effective—and how they can be refined—is not being transferred. One consultant likened being repeatedly hired to repeat a lesson, implying that hard-won lessons learned on one project aren’t being carried over to the next. This lack of continuity puts progress perpetually in the position of needing to be built up rather than built upon.
Glimmers of Hope in a Troubled Landscape
That said, all is not doom and gloom. There are some recent releases that are modestly improving the game. Take, for instance, games such as South of Midnight that are trying out new accessibility features, such as skippable boss battles, or firms such as Nintendo that are starting to think more holistically. On digital stores, big-name publishers are also improving when it comes to listing accessibility information, allowing players to make better choices. These victories are small but meaningful, and they indicate that there is still a way ahead.
The Tech Talent Crunch: It’s About Skills, Not Job Titles
Even as gaming struggles with diversity, the wider tech industry has its issue: a lack of skilled employees. Technology is changing so fast that the shelf life of so many skills is shortening. Employees are taking longer than ever to become proficient in new tools, and many companies are coming to accept that inflexible job titles no longer accurately capture what individuals can do.
Firms that are making the transition to skills-centric culture are realizing better results in every area. By stepping beyond conventional résumés and accessing information from within tools, projects, and communities, bosses are finding talent they never knew they had. Occasionally, this results in finding people who possess uncommon pairs of skills—people with the ability to fill the void between technology, business, and innovation.
Human Skills Are Stealing the Spotlight
Surprisingly, when asked what skills are most important for the future, top responses from leaders weren’t technical. Leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, and imagination emerged as the winners; just one of the top five was an entirely technical skill. That’s a revealing indicator that in today’s rapidly evolving world, success depends on more than expertise in coding or engineering.
But there’s a disconnect between understanding how valuable these human skills are and developing them. While most firms claim it’s crucial to stay in harmony with technology when it comes to human capabilities, few believe they’re doing so.
New Ways to Learn and Grow
To bridge this gap, several organizations are experimenting with new ways. Some are establishing digital playgrounds—safe spaces within the organization where employees are allowed to experiment with tools and ideas without fear of failure. One real estate firm developed a sandbox fueled by generative AI that enabled workers to interrogate data in innovative ways. Thousands from departments ranging from developers to marketing teams participated, learning through doing.
Open-source communities are another asset. Several developers report that working on these projects has taught them new skills they apply on the job today. Agile teams, workforce planning, and hands-on experience are rapidly gaining traction over older models of training as organizations strive to create talent that can evolve in real time.
What’s Next for Gaming and Tech?
Both sectors are at a critical juncture. For gaming, the question is obvious: how to continue advocating for accessibility even when budgets and institutional backing are dwindling. For the technology sector more widely, it’s about recognizing and developing skills—not only the technical ones—to remain ahead in an uncertain environment.
The solutions won’t come easily. But the stakes are high for anyone who believes technology—and the people behind it—should be as inclusive, adaptable, and forward-thinking as the tools we’re building.