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Project Leonardo is a very different PS5 controller for gamers with disabilities
- Sony announced Project Leonardo during its CES 2023 press event.
- This game controller for the PlayStation 5 console was designed to assist gamers with disabilities with customizable buttons, control profiles, and more.
- There’s no word about the controller’s price tag or release.
Sony used part of its CES 2023 press event to reveal a new controller for its PlayStation 5 game console. The controller currently has the code name Project Leonardo, and it’s being designed specifically for players with disabilities. Sony has been collaborating with accessibility experts and groups that support players with disabilities, like AbleGamers, SpecialEffect, and Stack Up, to help create this console.
Many of these gamers have difficulties holding a normal game console controller for long periods, and others have limited motor control. Project Leonardo has been designed to be highly customizable to help players find the best configuration for their individual needs. The controller has a circular hub for the main buttons, all of which can be switched out for buttons of various sizes.
Its analog stick comes out of the main circle of buttons, and the stick’s distance to those buttons can be changed. Sony also allows the controller to link wirelessly with other Project Leonardo controllers, along with the standard PS5 DualSense controller so that they can be used as one big controller. Project Leonardo can be placed flat on a table, so gamers don’t need to hold the controller to play games.
In addition to the hardware, Project Leonardo will have software features, including customizable button mapping and the ability to store up to three controller profiles. There’s no word on when the controller will be released, nor is there a price tag for it yet. Sony says it is still gathering feedback for the device, so it’s possible that the final design could change.
PSVR 2 Update
Sony also made a couple of quick updates about its upcoming PlayStation VR2 virtual reality headset. It’s still going to launch on February 22 for the price of $549.99. At CES 2023, Sony said there will be about 30 games that will support the PSVR 2 in its launch window. That will include Gran Turismo 7, which will add PSVR 2 support via a software update for the racing simulator. Also, Beat Saber, the very popular VR music beat-action game, is coming to the PSVR 2 at some point in the future.