How to Choose a Console
Different consoles have different benefits and drawbacks. In some cases, a user already has a specific console, and does not have the option of choosing which console to get. It is possible to get most adaptive controllers to work on most standard gaming consoles. For example, the Xbox Adaptive Controller can be made to work with the Nintendo Switch Console. However, not all consoles are created equally when it comes to accessibility. Typically, there are three things to consider when choosing a console:
1) How easy it is to get the adaptive controller to work with the console
2) What the built-in accessibility features are on the console
3) Which games are available on the console
Ease of Set Up
The easiest gaming system to interface with using adaptive controllers (besides a computer) is the Xbox console. Xbox is good about ensuring that future consoles will be compatible with adaptive controllers, so it is easier to ensure that the user’s current adaptive controller with be able to work with them. Nintendo Switch is the next most accessible, and most adaptive controllers can be easily made to interface with it. PlayStation is the most difficult to interface with and it cannot be guaranteed that future PlayStation consoles will be able to interface with adaptive controllers. For example, when the PlayStation 5 console released, it took almost one year to find a way to use adaptive controllers with it and it is still difficult to set up with adaptive controllers. See the Controller Connect Tool to learn how to set up adaptive controllers on different consoles.
Built In Accessibility
The built-in accessibility features on consoles are really only important if a user is going to use them. In general, Xbox has the most built-in accessibility features. PlayStation has he second most, closely followed by the Nintendo Switch. Currently, the only consoles that have copilot capabilities, in which two controllers can be linked together to control the same user, are the Xbox and PS5. On the PS5 this feature is called Assist Controller. See below for links to the accessibility features available on each console.
Games
The games that are available to play on a console is a very important factor to consider. This not only includes what type of game the user wants to play but also how easy the game will be to play for the user. Most games, besides a few, that are available on the Xbox are also available to play on the PlayStation. In general, the difficulty and types of games don’t differ much between the Xbox and PlayStation consoles. However, the Nintendo Switch does differ significantly in the types of games that are available. Many games on the Nintendo Switch are much easier to play and have much fewer controls than the games on the other two consoles. Therefore, this might be the better option for individuals who might be better starting with simpler games that have fewer controls.