Asmodee recently announced a new studio called Access+ which will help create board games that are accessible to even more players, particularly those with cognitive disabilities. The new studio is starting by adapting three of Asmodee’s greatest hits to become Spot It! Access+, Cortex Access+, and Timeline Access+ which will be available in France, Belgium, and Canada later this year and a worldwide release in 2023.
To help make thsese titles more accessible to individuals with cognitive abilities, Asmodee has brought in an external scientific committee of expert care professionals. The goal of the Access+ team and its partners is to “adapt and test the material, rules and difficulty of its titles to stimulate cognitive functions, promote positive emotions and social relationships and provide the joy in discovering (or rediscovering) the pleasure of playing together.” Talking about starting up Access+, Mikaël Le Bourhis, who is the head of Asmodee Research said:
Over several years, Asmodee has invested in scientific research to demonstrate the societal impact board games can have. Now we’re ready to put that research into practice with Access+, creating games that not only are fun to play but provide real, tested benefits to those with special needs, starting with cognitive impairment.
Stéphane Carville, CEO of Asmodee, added:
Access+ is launched because, at Asmodee, we believe board games are universal. By starting to adapt some of our most popular titles to fit the needs of all, we can strive to make board gaming as inclusive and accessible as possible. As an industry leader, we want to create products that can truly make a difference in people’s lives. Board gaming is social by nature, and Access+ titles allow families and friends to re-introduce the fun of board gaming to their loved ones with special needs, creating moments of happiness that can only come from shared experiences.
Some features of Access+ games to make them more accessible include bigger and thicker cards that are easier to hold, adapted rules, various difficulty options, and even a single-player version to promote autonomy. Each of the Access+ games will also come with a booklet that breaks down the scientific benefits of playing the game.