Nintendo Switch 2 offers accessibility features for disabled players, including text-to-speech, control remapping, and third-party controller support, but setup isn't fully accessible and audio options are limited.
Nintendo's Switch 2 has been a surprise to many, as it introduced a more holistic approach to accessibility for players with disabilities. However, the company has kept quiet about its accessibility options, with no further information emerging ahead of the device's debut. However, after spending the last week with the Switch 2, it became clear that this limited information hid an impressive suite of system-level accessibility considerations and advances that somewhat offset the otherwise gradual update the Switch 2 represents.
The setup process is very intuitive, but players who are blind may require assistance. The console's text-to-speech is not enabled by default, nor can you access text sizing and zoom options. This will represent a significant barrier to entry for some, and blind players may require sighted assistance during setup. Switch controllers and Joy-Cons are compatible with the Switch 2, and the ability to default to the original Pro Controller is welcome. It's encouraging that you can pair other controllers with the Switch 2 using peripherals like the Magic-S Pro 2. However, there are already some connectivity issues around third-party controllers, especially 8BitDo gamepads, with 8BitDo working on updates to get those working with the Switch 2.
Nintendo's licensed adaptive controller, the Hori Flex, is supported, which works docked and in tabletop mode for games that don't require mouse controls (some other features, like motion controls, may also cause issues). You will need a USB-A to USB-C adapter to connect in tabletop mode.
You can connect a USB keyboard through the console's USB-C ports and use that instead, including during setup. The text-to-speech speed is inconsistent, but on average, US English is 120–130 words per minute on average. There is no official number on the speed at which the Switch 2’s text-to-speech reads, but we can estimate that both voice options averaged around 120–130 words per minute in US English. For UK English, it was 130–140 words per minute. Different languages will see different rates.
Players should be aware there is a noticeable delay between landing on a menu option and the text-to-speech kicking in. Similarly, during testing, toggling text-to-speech led to a notification with the word “disabled.” Reenabling the function without moving out of the accessibility menu did not lead to anything suggesting text-to-speech was back on. All told, however, it's a good system, controlled by a discrete speed slider that ranges from 50 percent to 300 percent.
When enabling text-to-speech, you're told the function may not be supported on all screens. As things stand, it looks like text-to-speech works across all system-level menus, but not on the Nintendo eShop. Most games also don't support system-level text-to-speech, including Mario Kart World.
Outside the ability to toggle mono audio, greater audio customization is not available on the Switch 2 at a system level. GameChat’s speech-to-text transcribes swearing, which is an important accessibility feature that allows users, especially deaf players, to engage fully with in-game communication without having to decipher improper transcription and censored text. However, it's not perfect, and speech-to-text swaps in odd words at times, which is an error rather than censorship of specific terms.
At a system level, players can remap controls within the Switch 2's settings and do so for each Joy-Con independently. However, current evidence suggests this option will not be present in Nintendo's first-party games. In-game options for remapping are more instructive and convenient, and they limit rebindings to specific actions in-game rather than having to continuously rebind on a system level for every game. Nintendo appears to understand this, allowing remapping in the new GameCube games available to Switch Online subscribers.
Bottom Line, the Nintendo Switch 2 offers an impressive suite of accessibility features and customization that will hopefully grow in time. However, Nintendo's silence on the subject of accessibility is surprising, as it seems to be a significant improvement over previous releases.
About the Writer
Jenny, the tech wiz behind Jenny's Online Blog, loves diving deep into the latest technology trends, uncovering hidden gems in the gaming world, and analyzing the newest movies. When she's not glued to her screen, you might find her tinkering with gadgets or obsessing over the latest sci-fi release.What do you think of this blog? Write down at the COMMENT section below.
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