Steam Should Consider Greater Accessibility and Use Reduce Motion!

Improving Accessibility on Steam: Addressing Sensory Sensitivities, Vestibular Issues, and User Experience for All

Contents
The Impact of Vestibular Disorders and Motion SensitivityThe Case for Reducing Visual MotionBroader Accessibility Concerns in Steam’s UI1. Lack of Keyboard Navigation and Focus Indicators2. Limited Screen Reader Compatibility3. Inconsistent Color Schemes and Poor Contrast4. Lack of Customization for Cognitive Disabilities5. Lack of Support for Alternate Input Devices6. Absence of Subtitles or Closed Captions for VideosConclusion: Creating a More Inclusive Steam

Steam is one of the largest digital distribution platforms for video games, offering users a vast library of titles, services, and social features. However, for many users, particularly those with sensory sensitivities or physical disabilities, the platform’s user interface (UI) and design elements present significant barriers to accessibility. These issues are not just minor inconveniences; for individuals with vestibular disorders, visual impairments, motor disabilities, or cognitive difficulties, the lack of accessible design can make the platform difficult or even impossible to use.

Among the many challenges Steam faces in terms of accessibility, the use of loading spinners is one of the most problematic. These rotating icons appear on nearly every page—whether logging in, accessing the library, viewing a profile, or navigating through Big Picture mode. For individuals with vestibular disorders, such as vertigo, dizziness, Ménière’s disease, vestibular migraines, or visual vertigo, the spinning animations can trigger intense sickness, disorientation, and nausea. The symptoms are often exacerbated by the rapid movement, as the brain struggles to process conflicting signals from visual and sensory stimuli. These visual cues, while functional for many users, are highly detrimental for individuals with vestibular issues.

The Impact of Vestibular Disorders and Motion Sensitivity

Vestibular disorders affect millions of people worldwide, and according to the Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA), over 35% of adults in the U.S. will experience some form of vestibular dysfunction in their lifetime. For these individuals, even mild movement or flashing visuals can trigger debilitating symptoms, such as dizziness, vertigo, difficulty concentrating, and severe motion sickness. The presence of spinning icons on Steam’s platform only serves to exacerbate these issues. For example, individuals with vestibular migraines—who experience increased sensitivity to light and visual motion—are particularly susceptible to discomfort caused by such animations. Visual vertigo, another condition in which movement or visual stimuli can cause balance disturbances and nausea, is also aggravated by these dynamic elements.

When users encounter these visual cues, the motion can overwhelm their sensory systems, leading to a range of symptoms that significantly impact their ability to use the platform. Many users with vestibular disorders report feeling sick or disoriented when navigating the Steam interface, making it difficult for them to enjoy the games and content they wish to explore.

The Case for Reducing Visual Motion

To address these challenges, Steam should implement system-wide accessibility settings that would allow users to opt-out of motion-heavy elements. For instance, honoring the “Reduce Motion” preferences found on most operating systems (such as Windows, macOS, and iOS) could be a simple but effective solution. This feature, which is already available on several platforms, allows users to reduce or eliminate unnecessary motion in user interface elements, such as animations and transitions. By integrating this setting into Steam, users could automatically replace the spinning icons with a more static, neutral visual cue, such as a simple hourglass symbol. This adjustment would make the platform far more accessible for individuals with vestibular disorders, sensory sensitivities, or motion-related discomfort.

By making this change, Steam would demonstrate its commitment to creating a more inclusive platform for all users. Not only would it improve the experience for people with vestibular issues, but it would also align with best practices in digital accessibility.

Broader Accessibility Concerns in Steam’s UI

While addressing visual motion is an important step, Steam’s UI contains several other accessibility gaps that hinder users with various disabilities from fully engaging with the platform. These issues span a wide range of impairments, including motor disabilities, visual impairments, and cognitive difficulties. Below are some of the most significant accessibility challenges that Steam currently faces.

1. Lack of Keyboard Navigation and Focus Indicators

For users with motor disabilities or those who cannot use a mouse, Steam’s interface can be difficult to navigate using only a keyboard. While some keyboard shortcuts are available, the lack of a consistent and easily navigable system for moving between elements can make the platform frustrating to use. In addition, the visual focus indicators, which highlight the current element being interacted with, are often insufficient or unclear. This lack of clear focus management is a significant issue, particularly for users who rely on keyboards for navigation, as it becomes difficult to discern where the focus is on the screen. This issue also extends to screen reader users, making it difficult for them to interact with the platform.

To improve accessibility, Steam should enhance keyboard navigation and introduce clearer focus indicators, ensuring that users can more easily and accurately navigate through the UI using only their keyboard. This could include larger, more visible focus highlights or customizable focus styles to meet the needs of different users.

2. Limited Screen Reader Compatibility

For individuals with visual impairments, particularly those who are blind or have low vision, Steam’s UI is challenging to navigate. While there is some support for screen readers, the platform does not provide consistent or reliable functionality for users who rely on assistive technologies. Many images, buttons, and UI elements lack proper alternative text (alt text), and the overall structure of the interface is often not optimized for screen reader software. This can result in a fragmented or confusing experience for users who need screen readers to navigate.

To address these issues, Steam could improve the structure and labeling of elements to ensure better compatibility with screen readers. For example, providing alt text for all images and ensuring that headings and landmarks are used properly would make it easier for screen reader users to navigate and understand the content.

3. Inconsistent Color Schemes and Poor Contrast

For users with color blindness or low vision, the colors used in Steam’s UI can present a significant barrier. Many text and background combinations do not have sufficient contrast, making it difficult for users to read or understand the content. This is especially problematic for individuals with conditions like dyslexia or age-related vision impairments, who may already face challenges with legibility.

Steam could address this by offering more customizable themes with options for adjusting color contrast and modifying the color scheme to better suit users’ needs. Implementing a “high contrast” mode would help users with color vision deficiencies or low vision access the platform more comfortably.

4. Lack of Customization for Cognitive Disabilities

For users with cognitive disabilities, such as ADHD or learning disabilities, Steam’s dense and information-heavy interface can be overwhelming. The sheer amount of text, buttons, and interactive elements can cause confusion, making it difficult for users to focus on key content. Additionally, important notifications and updates can get lost in the clutter of the interface, further hindering the user experience.

To improve accessibility for individuals with cognitive impairments, Steam could offer a more customizable UI that allows users to simplify the layout, reduce visual clutter, and modify the amount of text or information displayed. By giving users the ability to organize the interface in a way that suits their cognitive needs, Steam could enhance usability for a wider range of individuals.

5. Lack of Support for Alternate Input Devices

For individuals with motor impairments, Steam does not currently offer sufficient support for alternate input devices, such as adaptive controllers, eye-tracking technology, or switches. Many users with physical disabilities rely on these devices to interact with their computers, but Steam does not fully integrate or support them. This lack of compatibility prevents users with motor impairments from engaging with the platform in a way that accommodates their needs.

By adding compatibility with a broader range of assistive input devices, such as adaptive controllers and head trackers, Steam could make the platform more accessible for users with motor disabilities. This could include customizable control mapping options, allowing users to tailor the platform’s interface to their specific needs.

6. Absence of Subtitles or Closed Captions for Videos

Another area where Steam falls short in accessibility is in its handling of video content. Many of the videos available on Steam, such as trailers, news updates, and promotional content, do not include subtitles or closed captions. This lack of support is a major barrier for users who are deaf or hard of hearing, as they cannot fully access or understand the content being presented.

Steam could significantly improve accessibility for users with hearing impairments by consistently providing subtitles or closed captions for all videos on the platform. This would ensure that users who are deaf or hard of hearing are not excluded from important content, including promotional materials and game trailers.

Conclusion: Creating a More Inclusive Steam

Steam is a beloved platform for gamers worldwide, but its current UI and design features leave much to be desired in terms of accessibility. From the use of spinning loading icons that exacerbate vestibular disorders to the lack of support for alternate input devices and cognitive disabilities, there are many areas where Steam can improve to create a more inclusive experience for all users. By implementing changes such as honoring system-wide “Reduce Motion” preferences, enhancing keyboard navigation, improving screen reader compatibility, and providing better contrast and color schemes, Steam can become a truly accessible platform that accommodates the needs of all its users.

Accessibility is not just about convenience—it’s about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their physical or sensory abilities, can enjoy the platform. By taking these steps, Steam would not only improve the experience for users with disabilities but also align with best practices in digital accessibility, creating a platform that is welcoming and usable for all gamers.

References:

Sensory Diversity

Sensory Diversity

Sensory Diversity is provided on behalf of the International Misophonia Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Missouri whose mission includes misophonia, misokinesia, and sensory processing disorders.

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