Edit: Title should be *setting* not mode.
Grounded is a survival game set in a backyard, meaning that common insects are some of the boss monsters in the environment, including several different types of spiders. But, many people have strong aversions to spiders and won't play a game that features them. Indeed, it's consistently one of the top 5 phobias worldwide (estimated at 30% of the population in the US - though, I think this is likely due to an overly wide definition of "arachnophobia"). Obsidian is working with Microsoft's User Research Lab to understand arachnophobia better, to identify triggers, and find ways to avoid them in gameplay. Additionally, they're looking at how to implement an arachnophobia mode that changes spiders on the client side (rather than server side), meaning that you can play both SP AND coop without spiders, even if you play with people who want spiders in THEIR games.
Not too many details yet, but I think it's cool to see devs considering all different types of accessibility in games, and how a bit of research and foresight and investment can make games better for many more people than we normally think about. (The arachnophobe demographic is not often catered to in games.)
Timestamp to devs answering this question in the recent gameplay stream.
Edit: For perspective for those of us who don't know what phobias are like. It's not a phobia until it negatively affects your normal functioning:
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www.verywellmind.com
Grounded is a survival game set in a backyard, meaning that common insects are some of the boss monsters in the environment, including several different types of spiders. But, many people have strong aversions to spiders and won't play a game that features them. Indeed, it's consistently one of the top 5 phobias worldwide (estimated at 30% of the population in the US - though, I think this is likely due to an overly wide definition of "arachnophobia"). Obsidian is working with Microsoft's User Research Lab to understand arachnophobia better, to identify triggers, and find ways to avoid them in gameplay. Additionally, they're looking at how to implement an arachnophobia mode that changes spiders on the client side (rather than server side), meaning that you can play both SP AND coop without spiders, even if you play with people who want spiders in THEIR games.
Not too many details yet, but I think it's cool to see devs considering all different types of accessibility in games, and how a bit of research and foresight and investment can make games better for many more people than we normally think about. (The arachnophobe demographic is not often catered to in games.)
Timestamp to devs answering this question in the recent gameplay stream.
Edit: For perspective for those of us who don't know what phobias are like. It's not a phobia until it negatively affects your normal functioning:
What You Need to Know About Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia, or the fear of spiders, is one of the most common specific phobias. Learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for this condition.
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