Forza Horizon 5 is bringing sign language support to 150 in-game cinematics.
Playground Games confirmed that both American and British dialects will be added by way of a free content update on March 1. This is a first for an Xbox Game Studios title and could be the first game in general to offer a similar option.
In an accompanying video announcement, Playground Games demonstrated how the feature will work, with pop-up interpreters appearing on-screen during certain scenes.
As explained in the clip, for many deaf and hard of hearing gamers, English isn't their first language, but American Sign Language is. Since it's a different language to English, this can make it difficult for many to follow ASL while reading English on-screen subtitles. Having the on-screen guidance makes it so that players aren't forced to read in two different languages at once.
The new sign language feature ensures it takes a variety of approaches to inclusivity. As sign language encompasses far more than just hands, visual aids for players can make a massive difference.
"There are so many people with disabilities and people who are deaf," says Microsoft's Chief Accessibility Officer Jenny Lay-Flurrie. "And, there are a lot of closed doors every day. What I mean by that is that we are consistently and constantly dealing with inequities that exist. The fact that I can just be on the same level playing field as them means I'm not focused on a closed door."
To access the feature, go to the Settings menu, then choose Accessibility. From there, toggle the Sign Language Picture-in-Picture option.
Sign language support is the latest in many accessibility features already available in Forza Horizon 5. From a color blindness mode to customizable subtitles, the game includes an abundance of options to help make sure any player who wants to play can do so comfortably.
Check out our full Forza Horizon 5 review for our thoughts on the expansive open-world racing game.
