It looks like Sifu will eventually receive an update that will make the game more accessible.
According to Steve Saylor, who has been a shining advocate for disabled gamers, Slocap, the developers of Sifu, will be adding several options that should make the game more accessible. These options include difficulty modes, so the game can be made easier or harder (for those who like it rough), A high contrast mode for the PS4 and PS5 — I found that odd that feature this was available for the PC, but not for consoles.
Hey! So it's weird I get to help break news but yes #Sifu is getting #accessibility updates post-launch.
– Better captions
– High Contrast Mode on PS4/5 (was on PC, but not PS4/5 at launch due to a bug)
– Difficulty Modes. Both easier & harder, similar to Metroid Dread's update. https://t.co/9pFTOmfvnR— Steve Saylor (@stevesaylor) February 11, 2022
However, it doesn’t stop there. Doing some digging, it would also that better audio support is also coming to the game. According to Caniplaythat, Slocap had hosted a live stream that detailed what Steve Saylor had echoed and more. Such as making it so that footsteps stop making sounds when walking into walls and obstacles. Correcting this would be a step, as some realize on audio cues and that is a misleading one.
There was a mention of making it that when dialogue is shown on-screen, the game would pause. That way, players wouldn’t have to deal with having to read the subtitles while also trying to stay alive. All of which would be beneficial for anyone who plays the game.
While Sifu has only been available for a few days, it already has a reputation as being a game that’s hard as they come. Some even have called it the Dark Souls of martial arts games. Now, while I don’t agree with the latter, I can attest that the game does have its moments where it just destroys you.
Now, think about how someone who has a disability feels when they either attempt to play the game or simply can’t. This is why I am completely for games being more accessible for those with not just disabilities, but for those who aren’t able to play games that were originally designed to be tough.
I agree with adding these changes to the game for a better experience for everyone. Of course, there should be an option to disable those so that those who feel “offended” can keep playing the game the way they want to.
Sifu is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. Check out our review of the game, which had an issue with the game’s difficulty.