Video: Meet The Hori Flex, A Nintendo Switch Controller Built With Accessibility In Mind

I'm so glad that accessable controllers are becoming more common. It gives more people the experience of video games.

Microsoft made the Xbox one then made the patents free and open so everyone could make them. Surprised more companies havent used that

It’s such a good step forward to make games more accessible. It was a great idea for Microsoft to open the patent up for free.

Might get one for myself! I’ve been looking for a good, all-button joystick to alleviate wrist cramps. This might be the thing! How much is the controller, anyway?

NINJA APPROVED

Great video. Accessibility is really important so it's great that these kinds of controllers exist and that you are showcasing them. I can imagine a video like this will spread awareness of this kind of product and get it into the hands of those who need it.

One criticism though (and I think the video is good and respectful so I don't mean this harshly) - Alex repeatedly says that this product isn't designed for him and he doesn't have the understanding to review it. Given that, I'd say that NintendoLife should have partnered with someone who does need this kind of controller and included them in the video - that might have provided better insight. Those are the voices that really matter when looking at these things. Maybe I'm nitpicking but i'm sure that would have been possible, easily enough.

So it's basically a copy of the Microsoft controller. Nice to have these more available though, I'm sure there's tons of people who need something like this on the Switch.

I was even thinking about if will be able to play when i am old.
My Grandfather got really stiff Hands, so there is the Possibility that mine will get also bad when i am old.

So something like this can also serve us, when we're old and our Movement bad.

@Splodge : Indeed. It did get pretty grating that he was constantly pointing out the fact, especially if he indeed had little to no firsthand experience with disabled people. Some much-needed perspective, even from an able-bodied person who has experience with disabled people, would have gone a long way.

I've had to trial and error with controllers when giving my sister a Switch (my sister suffers from a few disabilities), and I found that a single Joy-Con (with the now discontinued battery pack/grip accessory) or a Pro Controller were best for her, though she doesn't have the adequate reflexes to comfortably play a lot of games (another reason why I think Game Freak are idiots for forcing single Joy-Con use in tabletop/docked modes for the Let's Go Pokémon games). She was also incapable of inserting the Joy-Con into the charging grip, hence the Joy-Con battery pack/grip. My sister expressed interest in the classic DOOM games, but she wouldn't be able to play those either due to forced analog controls (as opposed to directional buttons as per the original PC versions).

Perhaps I could have gotten her a Switch Lite (and I still might at some point), but she's quite irresponsible with her belongings, and it would be much too expensive to replace (though I'll probably get one once Switch Lites are discontinued and plummet in price). I did buy her a 2DS a few years ago (the lack of clamshell sealed the deal for me), which is still in one piece (shockingly) albeit with signs of wear and tear.

I'm not sure if she would benefit from something like the Hori Flex, but the fact that it isn't wireless rules it out as her Switch is wall-mounted (to prevent her from touching the dock). In any case, I would love to see more accessibility options in more mainstream/casual games moving forward. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a tremendous step in the right direction, and it confounds me that similar modes haven't been implemented in other games since. With a little assistance, even a blind and/or limbless person could play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which I think is incredible.

And if Nintendo utilised the HD rumble feature to full effect, they could have given even blind people a competitive edge, but that seems like too niche a function to warrant implementing, but it could prove worthwhile in the long term if care homes buy Switches and copies of accessible games in droves (similar to how many aged care facilities invested in Wiis and games such as Wii Sports, Wii Fit, Just Dance etc.). Now there's an untapped market that is ripe for the picking.

It's better than nothing, but unfortunately it's too expensive. It's not only the controller, you need to add adaptive buttons. I don't know, I think it shouldn't be that expensive DYI this using a original Controller's PCB. I live in Brazil and videogames here are expensive, even in a standard version. If a father need to buy the console and this controller it'll be almost unpayable. If he could take the Controller and mod in something like this, the buttons themselves are easier (and more affordable) to get.

I was going to watch the video until I got to the last word of the article.

Glad this controller exists for those who need it.

No gamer left behind!
Top rate work, thanks for sharing.

Great review Alex

@Silly_G How exactly is mk8 dx a step in the right direction?

Super great to hear about this. Thanks for reporting.

@sunny63 : Optional smart steering and auto-acceleration.

Thanks to that, virtually anybody can play regardless of skill level or handicap.

I like the concept but Hori is hit and miss on quality. I may get it at some point just for the flexibility it gives me.

@nessisonett I saw you on Arlo© on Youtube. You are a celebrity ("...with your face in a magazine" --The Subways). I always knew you were destined for fame.
https://youtu.be/od4RQNspInY

@HDmumble Wow, that’s honestly pretty cool 😂

This has a LOT of potential!