Bringing Audio Description to Digital Events
In 2020, I led a small taskforce with the goal of producing Ubisoft’s first audio description trailer. The Assassin’s Creed Valhalla World Premiere Trailer was one of the first audio described marketing trailers in the gaming industry. (Descriptive Video Works)
Later that year, we achieved a true industry-first - Ubisoft was the first gaming company to utilize YouTube’s multi-audio track feature, which was in beta. This allowed us to include the audio described track directly, rather than uploading a separate audio description version - dramatically improving discoverability. (TechRadar)
How It Started
A New Standard
In 2021, we produced Ubisoft’s first-ever audio described livestream event - Ubisoft Forward.
In 2022, we produced the most accessible event in Ubisoft’s history, with subtitles in 10 languages, 4 sign languages, and English audio description, winning the 2022 GAConf Awards’ “Most Accessible Gaming Event.”
Digital to IRL
In 2023, we produced Ubisoft’s first audio described live event - including both live and pre-recorded audio description.
In 2024, we provided audio description headsets for a live audience in addition to the virtual audio described livestream.
Accessible events include closed captions, sign language, accessible entrances and pathways, event staff trained in accessibility, adjustable desks and more.
Through an approach that prioritizes the end-to-end attendee experience, we continue to iterate to make our events accessible to as many people as possible.