If you need to use a modern game controller with just one hand instead of two, why not give it Akaki Kuumeri 3d printed mod a try? We’ve written about YouTuber’s previous projects to add joysticks and throttles to controllers, but more recently Kuumeri has created a range of one-handed controller mods, which we saw via this Reddit post and could be useful if you or someone you know has accessibility needs that prevent them from using both hands with a traditionally two-handed gamepad.
Kuumeri Mods Videos dates back to early 2022. At the time, Microsoft was the only major console manufacturer to have announced an accessibility driver of its own. “Microsoft has the Xbox Adaptive Controller and Copilot mode, which are an incredible contribution to accessible (albeit quite expensive) gaming,” Kuumeri said IGN in January 2022 after the release of the initial DualSense mod. “Switch has remappable buttons and Joy-Cons can be held in different ways. Sony’s PlayStation does nothing for accessibility.”
Rather than sell gamers an entirely new input device, Kuumeri’s 3D-printed mods plug into an existing gamepad and use a series of levers to effectively position their inputs, including face and shoulder buttons. , as well as the triggers, within reach of a hand. The exception is the controller’s second analog stick, which can be moved by pushing a module on the back of the controller against a surface such as a table or the top of your leg. (Makes a lot more sense once you see it in action.) In addition to the PS5 DualSense, there are also mods available for the PS4 controller, as well as the Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X, and Nintendo Switch Joy-Con.
AbleGamers, an American non-profit organization that works to improve accessibility in video games, currently recommends Kuumeri designs as a 3D printed solution for people looking for a one-handed gaming option. He cites a number of conditions, including hemiparesis and severe arthritis, as possible reasons for playing one-handed, and also lists a number of out-of-the-box options as alternatives to the 3D-printed approach.
However, YouTuber layouts still have their advantages. They’re available today, for starters, and the PlayStation versions are available for Akaki controllers for $73 — less than the next gatekeeper. And if you know how to handle a 3D printer, Kuumeri has posted the designs online for people to produce themselves. Finally, Kuumeri designs are also available. via controller projectwhich provides cheap or free controller mods to players with disabilities or limb differences. Here is a frequently asked question about how the application process works.
