Shmups are known for being visually intense, fast-paced, and packed with flashing colors. But for many color-blind and visually impaired players, that beautiful cosmic chaos can make the action incredibly difficult to follow.
We want Astro Burn to be an adventure everyone can enjoy, which is why I’ve been researching game accessibility for quite some time now.
After receiving some fantastic, detailed analysis on an early build from accessibility advocate Ned Shoaei, spending months reading research papers, and drawing inspiration from industry advocates like Jarvs Tasker, we decided it was time to take action.
Coming to our Early Access update today, we are introducing our new 'Mono High Contrast Mode' toggle!
Not Just a Filter: A Manual Redesign
This isn’t just a lazy color overlay. To get this right, we are manually going through each layer of every level in the game to:
Adjust Contrast Ranges: Creating high-contrast, monochromatic palettes to drastically improve visual clarity.
Prioritize Gameplay Sprites: Hiding or softening certain background details so your eyes can focus instantly on what matters - your ship, the enemies, and the projectiles.
It is a incredibly time-consuming process, but the results are so worth it.
Not only does it make the game significantly more comfortable to play for color-blind pilots, but it also gives Astro Burn a really distinctive, gorgeous new retro artistic look! 🖤
Check it RIGHT NOW!
To access the mono mode, go to Options > Gameplay and toggle the switch for Mono Mode. Remember you can access the options screen anytime by pausing the game.
We can't wait to hear your feedback on how it feels in action. Every hurdle overcome means one more platform - and one more group of players - who can safely join the mission to rescue those kittens!
Over and out,
Astro Burn Team
