The default frames now appear faded and extremely low-contrast, especially when players are out of range. There are no longer effective options to control opacity, brightness, or visibility, which makes them genuinely hard to see. (Yes there are some settings that say things for this but they really don’t appear to change much at all.)
I have a visual disability. Blizzard’s added “audio assist” options are not sufficient or comparable to what was available before. I relied on addons that provided spoken cues, warning me to move, identifying casts and calling out important mechanics, which allowed me to participate in group content. Those tools have been taken away and replaced with crappy versions or removed entirely.
Now, on top of losing accessible audio support, I also can’t reliably see party or raid frames. Some people use addons etc to enhance their game. Some use them because it’s the only option they have. Some use it to be able to play with other people and not get abused when trying to do any sort of multiplayer content.
This update has reduced accessibility on multiple fronts. Please reconsider the removal of addons and or at least provide proper visual and audio accessibility controls so disabled players can continue to play the game.
P.s. I have played this game for over 10 years. In that time I have been experiencing vision loss. This is one of the few things that actually make me feel semi normal and I enjoy. You’re ripping that away from me, as well as many others I am sure.
“You can change colors and contrast with addons” to player with visual disability, that’s fantastic advice mate…… Many people don’t have any awareness on how impact addon apocalypse to disability gamers.
That means she want custom audio cues because she is unable to recognise when her abilities are off cooldown and look at health bars at the same time. Visual impaired players get overwhelmed by too much visual clutter, Weakaura and addons helped reduce the visual clutter and create custom audio cues before Midnight.
You are completely out of touch about disability gamers, I understand his issues with accessibility issues because I am disability gamer (I don’t have visual impaired) as well
It’s more I’m offering what is practical. Custom sounds are on the table but to my understanding not implemented. You make due with the tools you have.
Your initial advice was changing colors and contrast for visual impaired players is practical? Yeah, tell me how that is helping to visual impaired players. I am sure you didn’t read her whole post.
Colors and contrast aren’t practical advice she wanted, she wants custom sound cues with filter the visual clutter. You literally can’t filter the visual clutter such as filtering buff/debuff on party/raid frames. Telling them to change colors and contrast to visual impaired players is same as telling deaf players to use sound cues on CDM
Why can’t you see the frames? You have tons of freedom and ways to change it.
Also, I am just stating this. While I understand it sucks being disable, you should not latch on to games that are ever changing to feel normal. The simple truth is, that services are going to be for the mass amount of people, and these changes are for people who don’t have your disablity.
You can do a few things, play with people who can help you out on discord, or don’t do said content where your disablity would hinder.
I would also keep giving feedback to Blizzard, but sadly a company does not have to cater to peoples needs like this.
So the only thing you can do is adapt, or move on.
The game was plenty accessible because of add-ons and it didn’t cost Blizzard a dime. They chose to kill that thinking they’d magically get new players, but where are they? All I’m seeing is people leaving because Blizzard had to fix what wasn’t broken.
Blizzard has an accessibility team and if I recall correctly a monitored email channel. I would highly advise that over engaging with General Discussion. I believe it is accessibility@blizzard.com.