Open Drive, an eye gaze accessible game for mobile devices
Thursday, May 15th, 2025
Above: Tiago, a games development student who has cerebral palsy, uses his eyes to play Open Drive on a TD Pilot iOS device.
Tiago is chuckling as he uses his eyes to throw a car around one of extensive worlds in Open Drive, the new version of SpecialEffect’s open world driving game. The landscapes will be familiar to existing PC players, as will the large range of accessible ways to play, including touch, accessibility switches, game controllers, keyboard, eye movement, and mouse – but the difference is that Tiago is playing the game on a mobile device.
The forthcoming release of the Open Drive as a free app on both iOS and Android is a landmark moment for the charity. The inclusion of mobile-specific eye control functionality will allow players to enjoy the game on more devices using eye movement alone, and SpecialEffect Founder and CEO Dr Mick Donegan hopes that this addition to the already extensive range of ways of playing the game will be an inspirational example of gaming accessibility.
“Globally there are over three billion people who play mobile games on their smart phones or tablets. Even though the devices themselves are becoming increasingly accessible to people living with physical challenges, most mobile games can still only be played using touch control or, in some cases a gamepad. It’s for this reason that we have capitalised on this greater accessibility to develop a suite of mobile apps which we hope will be enjoyed by many people with even the most severe physical challenges. We also hope that the games will inspire the mobile games industry to make their own games more accessible, and enjoyable, for people with physical challenges.”
For Tiago, the emphasis is also on inclusion. “Making games more accessible to people who have physical difficulties is important,” said Tiago … it allows a wider range of people to play games and interact with gaming communities.”
Previously only available for Microsoft Windows, assistive eye gaze cameras are now available for the iOS and Android platforms. Using a compatible eye gaze camera with Open Drive, players can steer their vehicle by looking to the left and right of the vehicle to collect orbs, make jumps and explore the Stunt, Speed, Snow and Meadow worlds. The game also supports other input methods to increase motor accessibility, including accessibility switches, game controllers, keyboard keys and mice. These are also now supported on iOS and Android, alongside touch.
The Open Drive app will recognise which input device is being used on the device and then automatically configure the appropriate control scheme for the player. Gameplay speed is adjustable.
Following the release of this first app, more games from SpecialEffect’s catalogue will follow, including board games like Chess, Checkers, 4 in a Row, Mole Miners, the space racing game EyeDrive, and a new tower defence game titled Badger Badger.
SpecialEffect hope that the games can be an example to game developers on how more input methods, like eye gaze, can be supported on mobile devices. Working with Sun & Moon Studios as developers, the teams have collaborated on utilising accessibility features such as Assistive Touch on iOS and Switch Access on Android. The development process has also helped to inform the charity’s developer resources, such as the SpecialEffect DevKit.
Alongside the creation of games for mobile devices, SpecialEffect continue to update their Eye Gaze Games website for PC users with new features, updates and games.
Open Drive is expected to be released in summer, and will be available to download for free (with no in-app purchases) on the App Store and Google Play Store.
For more information, email Mark Saville (mark@specialeffect.org.uk).