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The controller kit focuses on making gaming easier for people with disabilities.
During its presentation at CES 2023, Sony introduced Project Leonardo, a customizable controller kit aimed to make gaming accessible to any person.
According to Sony, the controller kit should make games more comfortable and easier to play for people with limited motor control. The device has been designed with the help of members of the gaming community and developers as well as top experts from such organizations as AbleGamers, SpecialEffect, and Stack Up whose work is dedicated to accessibility.
Project Leonardo features circular gamepads lined with buttons and directional input methods, with all parts of the set being customizable. Sony says that the controller kit works "out of the box" letting players create a unique setup suitable for their needs which is similar to how Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controllers work.
"Our team tested over a dozen designs with accessibility experts, looking for approaches that would help address key challenges to effective controller use," Sony's designer So Morimoto said. "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."
The kit can be used both as a primary controller and as a secondary controller when paired with DualSense. Up to two Project Leonardo controllers and one DualSense wireless controller can be used together as a single virtual controller – this gives players the flexibility to mix and match devices for their particular needs as well as allows them to play together with other players.
Project Leonardo is currently in development, according to Sony, so it's so far unclear when the controller will go on sale.
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