PlayStation’s slogan is “Game has no limits”, so nothing more fair than allowing many more people to enjoy the games of the Japanese giant, right? Project Leonardo, the new accessibility-focused controller for the PS5was one of Sony’s highlights during CES 2023.
To create this device, the company spoke to several organizations focused on helping the public with some kind of limitation, such as AbleGamers, SpecialEffect and Stack Up.
We’ve designed a highly configurable controller that works in conjunction with many third-party (3rd-party) accessibility accessories and integrates with the PS5 console to open up new ways to play.
The Leonardo project will be very important in eliminating situations where people with disabilities find it difficult to hold controls for long periods and position buttons at the same time. It also helps you press buttons more comfortably on a standard accessory.
Despite being announced, the accessory still doesn’t have a release date, but as stated in the PS Blogmore details will be shared soon.
More details of the Leonardo Project
The customization of Project Leonardo and its interactivity with other accessories are some of the main advantages of the control. On PS5 it will be possible to take advantage of the button mapping and various control profiles, something similar to DualSense Edge:
- button mapping: Controller buttons can be programmed to any supported function and even mapped to the same function. However, players can only map two functions (such as “R2” + “L2”) to the same button;
- control profiles: Players can save their personal programmed settings as control profiles and easily switch between them by pressing the profile button – up to three can be saved at a time.
Players will also be able to use two Project Leonardo controllers simultaneously together with a DualSense, tailoring the accessories to their particular needs.
For example, players can add DualSense together with a Project Leonardo controller or use two of the same controllers alone. A friend or family member can also help control the player’s game character with a DualSense or second Project Leonardo controller.
To interact with the device, four 3.5mm auxiliary inputs will be part of the accessory. The other gadgets can be dynamically attached or removed, and there will be a way to configure them to function as individual buttons.
