ZA/UM has released a new Disco Elysium update that adds some pretty important accessibility features. The update itself isn't a big one, but it does bring a larger font size and a more legible UI, among other things.
What's in the new Disco Elysium update?
This update comes after ZA/UM released the expanded Disco Elysium: The Final Cut earlier this year. There are only a handful of items on the latest Disco Elysium patch notes. The rather catchily-titled "e6fdd6fa" update may not be huge, but it does proudly proclaim that it's adding "BIGGER FONT SIZES". This should help you if you've been struggling to read Disco Elysium's admittedly rather titchy font. You'll also notice that ZA/UM has cleaned up the game's UI somewhat; the update also brings "bigger and cleaner UI elements", so you can see the bad decisions you're about to make in clearer detail.
There are also a few other minor additions in the latest Disco Elysium update that should clean up the experience a little. ZA/UM says it's implemented lots of small visual fixes for a "smoother, more coherent visual experience". Some credit fixes have been added, and the game now supports the Apple M1 chip, so you can play it on devices running that hardware. In addition, the game's install size is now "significantly smaller" thanks to optimizations, which is good news for anyone without much space left on their storage drive.
A wider push towards accessibility in the industry
These changes come as part of a wider push towards greater accessibility within the gaming industry. Earlier this month, Microsoft announced a raft of new features for the Xbox ecosystem intended to widen the company's reach and get more gamers playing Xbox. These features include game menu narration by default, font changes, and input remapping support, among others. There are also games like The Game Bakers' Haven, which was designed to emphasize its accessibility features by default, according to its developers. Naturally, there are plenty more strides to make, but it's good to see developers working towards this admirable goal.
It's not entirely clear whether the new Disco Elysium update will also be made available for consoles, but at the very least, if you're playing on PC, you should have an easier time reading the fonts now. This is no mean feat for a game as text-based as ZA/UM's RPG. You can grab Disco Elysium right now via Steam. It's also available on PlayStation platforms, Xbox consoles, and Nintendo Switch.
Are you looking forward to more legible fonts in Disco Elysium? Let us know in the comments below!