SpecialEffect Brings Accessible Gaming Innovation to NG26
Nordic Game is proud to welcome SpecialEffect to NG26 Spring (26-29 May 2026) at Slagthuset in Malmö, Sweden. The UK-based charity, renowned for transforming lives through accessible gaming, will deliver a dedicated session on making mobile games more inclusive for physically disabled players.
Playing games on mobile devices is now the most popular gaming platform globally, yet accessibility for physically disabled people remains underexplored and underdeveloped. SpecialEffect is leading the charge to change that. By adapting controllers, integrating eye-tracking sensors, and designing for alternative input methods, their mission is simple but powerful: enable every person to play to the very best of their abilities.
At NG26, Michael Nelson (Technical Specialist in Assistive Technology) and Sachin Sunil (Occupational Therapist) will present the talk “Creating Mobile Games for Physically Disabled Players”. The session will provide an overview of SpecialEffect’s groundbreaking work, with a special focus on their “Eye Gaze Games” – a suite of mobile titles built from the ground up to support diverse access methods including eye gaze, joysticks, gamepads, switches, and touch. Attendees will see real implementations created for players who cannot use standard touchscreen controls, plus early demos of upcoming games before their public launch.
How to make games more accessible
Tom Donegan, Chief Operations Officer at SpecialEffect, explains why this topic matters now: “Playing games on mobile devices is more popular globally than any other platform, yet to date, less is known about how to make these games more accessible for physically disabled people. SpecialEffect sees opening up the world of mobile games as the next frontier in its mission to make gaming more inclusive for players everywhere. However, there are many challenges to be navigated in doing so, both in terms of game design and making them compatible to the widest possible range of assistive control devices, including eye-tracking. If you’re interested to find out more about what we’ve learned so far, as well as seeing some of our new games demoed before launch, then this is the session for you!”
This talk is essential for developers, designers, producers, and accessibility advocates who want to create truly inclusive experiences, especially in the booming mobile space. SpecialEffect’s practical insights, technical know-how, and real-world impact will inspire actionable changes in your own projects.
Don’t miss this unique NG26 session. Register today at nordicgame.com/registration before the final price increase on 30 April 2026. The full program continues to grow—stay tuned for more announcements!
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