Revolutionary Accessibility Controller Kit for PS5 – Meet Project Leonardo!

Sony recently announced the next step in the journey to give the PS5 more accessibility with the Project Leonardo Controller Kit.

Basically, Project Leonardo is Sony’s codename for a new highly customizable controller kit. This PlayStation kit works “out of the box” to help many players with disabilities play games more easily, more comfortably, and for longer periods.

Collaborative Effort

Sony worked with accessibility experts from organizations such as AbleGamers, SpecialEffect, and Stack Up. Through this work, they were able to design a highly configurable controller.

Our team tested over a dozen designs with accessibility experts, looking for approaches that would help address key challenges to effective controller use.

Sony Interactive Entertainment designer So Morimoto

Moreover, the controller works in tandem with many third-party accessibility accessories and integrates with the PS5 console. Specifically, this controller kit addresses common challenges for many players with limited motor control.

The controller kit provides assistance with the following:

• Difficulty holding a controller for long periods
• Accurately pressing small clusters of buttons or triggers
• Positioning thumbs and fingers optimally on a standard controller

Highly customizable play experience

Hardware Customizations

Basically, Project Leonardo for PlayStation 5 is a canvas for gamers to craft their own play experience. It includes a robust kit of swappable components. These components include a variety of analog stick caps and buttons in different shapes and sizes.

Players can use these components to craft a wide array of control layouts. Furthermore, players can adjust the distance of the analog stick from the gamepad to suit their preference.

These components allow players to find a configuration that works for their strength, range of motion, and particular physical needs. 

Software Customizations

On the PS5 console players have an array of options to tailor their Project Leonardo play experience:

• Button mapping
  • The controller’s buttons can be programmed to any supported function. In addition, multiple buttons can be mapped to the same function. Conversely, players can map two functions (like “R2” + “L2”) onto the same button.
• Control profiles
  • Players can store their programmed button settings as control profiles and easily switch between them by pressing the profile button.
  • Players can store up to three control profiles. Players can then access these profiles from their PS5 console at any time.

Works collaboratively with other devices and PS5 accessibility accessories

Players can use Project Leonardo as a standalone controller. Alternatively, they can pair it with additional Project Leonardo or DualSense wireless controllers.

Fortunately, Players can use up to two Project Leonardo controllers and one DualSense wireless controller together as a single virtual controller. This allows players to mix and match devices to fit their particular gameplay needs, or to play collaboratively with others.

Project Leonardo is expandable through four 3.5mm AUX ports to support a variety of external switches and third-party accessibility accessories. Basically, this enables users to integrate specialty switches, buttons, or analog sticks with the Project Leonardo controller. The external accessories can be dynamically connected or disconnected, and each can be configured to act like any other button.

Comments from the Sony Design Team

Sony Interactive Entertainment designer So Morimoto shared some insights on how his team approached the industrial design of Project Leonardo:

“Project Leonardo is part of the PS5 product family and is based on the same design concept. We were inspired by the idea of all players enjoying the world of PlayStation together.

Our team tested over a dozen designs with accessibility experts, looking for approaches that would help address key challenges to effective controller use.

We finally settled on a ‘split controller’ design that allows near free-form left/right thumbstick “repositionability”, can be used without needing to be held, and features very flexible button and stick cap swapping.

Because players can customize Project Leonardo according to their needs, there is no one ‘right’ form factor. We want to empower them to create their own configurations.

The controller can also flexibly accept combinations of accessibility accessories to create a unique aesthetic. I am excited that the design will be completed through collaboration with players rather than presenting them with a single form factor.”