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Mattel aims to make 80% of its games colorblind accessible by the end of the year, before raising that amount to 90% in 2025, the company announced Tuesday.
Mattel’s inclusivity effort will target some of its most popular products, including UNO, Phase 10, DOS, Blokus and Tumblin’ Monkeys games, according to a press release. The toy manufacturer’s portfolio-wide changes will ensure that classic colors are not the only way to differentiate cards or components for the majority of their games.
Mobile versions of the card games will be updated with new symbols for colorblind identification, such as squares and triangles. The new ‘Beyond Colors’ mobile decks are being led by Mattel163, Mattel’s joint mobile game developer and publisher venture with NetEase.
Mattel said approximately 300 million people experience some form of colorblindness, and it is working to break down barriers to game play.
“At Mattel, we are proud that our portfolio of games continues to bring people together – transcending languages and cultures – and this initiative to offer more colorblind accessible games is another proof point on our inclusivity journey,” Vice President and Global Head of Games Ray Adler said in the announcement.
Mattel said it will donate colorblind accessible products to local YMCA summer camps to celebrate this milestone.
