PlayStation announces Project Leonardo, a super customizable accessibility controller

PlayStation has announced that it’s working on a new customisable PS5 controller kit which will hopefully help those with disabilities play more comfortably.

As VGC reports, the hardware was unveiled in a post on the PlayStation Blog by Sony Interactive Entertainment’s senior vice president of platform experience, Hideaki Nishino. Codenamed Project Leonardo, the PS5 controller kit is “highly customisable”, and has been developed through conversations with accessibility experts to assist those who struggle to position their thumbs and fingers on standard controllers, press “small clusters of buttons or triggers” accurately, hold controllers for longer durations, and those with limited motor control.

Take a look at what some accessibility experts had to say about Project Leonardo below.

The controller kit will include a variety of different components, including differently shaped and sized buttons and stick caps, which can be swapped around to suit each individual. It can be set up in a range of different control layouts, which can be further customised with button mapping. Up to three button settings can be saved and stored as “control profiles”, which can be switched between at any time. The distance between the game pad and analog stick can also be adjusted.

While Project Leonardo can be used as a standalone controller, it can also be paired with a DualSense controller, an additional Project Leonardo, or both. It also boasts four AUX ports to support third party accessibility accessories, which will be able to be configured like the other buttons.

“Because players can customise Project Leonardo according to their needs, there is no one ‘right’ form factor,” So Morimoto, designer for Sony Interactive Entertainment said. “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.”

There’s currently no set release date for Project Leonardo, so we’ll just have to stay tuned for that. Accessibility advocates were also thanked for their passion, and inspiring PlayStation to make more accessible hardware.