The Spyro Reignited Trilogy collects and remasters the first three popular games in the classic Spyro. Since its release last week, it has been pretty well-received. However, there’s one feature, or rather, a lack of one feature, that has made the game unplayable for some. The Spyro Reignited Trilogy doesn’t have subtitles.
No subtitles means a huge amount of vital information to enjoy the game is simply not accessible to players who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Several people pointed this out on Twitter in the days following the release of the game.
https://twitter.com/NUT4ISKANDAR/status/1062937545669959680
https://twitter.com/ShyLuna/status/1062344361319587843
Reviewer Rob Pitt contacted the developer, Toys for Bob, and the publisher, Activision, about the lack of subtitles for cutscenes. They responded, saying in part, “There were certain decisions that needed to be made throughout the process. The team remained committed to keep the integrity and legacy of Spyro that fans remembered intact.” They also claimed that there is no industry standard for subtitles.
Gamers who care about accessibility and want everyone to be able to play have taken serious issue with these excuses. Many argue that in 2018 subtitles in video games actually are an industry standard.
There is an industry standard for subtitles in AAA games. It is “offer subtitles as an option”. That not every game hits that standard doesn’t change that. https://t.co/dIKkptV81z
— Rami Ismail / رامي (@tha_rami) November 19, 2018
I saw an article earlier about the new spyro game about not having subtitles, as apparently there’s not an industry standard for them in gaming, like are you for real? Every game I’ve played for the last 8 years has had them, it helps me with my tinnitus, and people who are DEAF
— Connor Bacon (@madebybacon) November 19, 2018
Their statement also seems to say that not having subtitles was a choice they made in order to maintain the “integrity and legacy” of the games, an assertion many say is not just ridiculous, but hurtful. The idea that the developers chose to make it so a part of their audience couldn’t fully access the story to slightly increase the nostalgia factor is, to many, insulting.
The more I think about Activision’s claim that Spyro doesn’t have subtitles for authenticity purposes, the angrier I get.
— Chris Scullion (@scully1888) November 19, 2018
“Ah, how I fondly remember the good old days, when deaf kids got a rough deal”
they said they left them out (of Spyro) on purpose to keep the authentic feel of the game. WAT. Just because they hated deaf people back then too doesn’t mean you should do it now arsebags
— 🌈🐮Lewdoween 🐮🌈 (@Helloween4545) November 19, 2018
Activision has so far not announced any plans to add in subtitles at a later date, and has only said that it “will evaluate going forward.”
