This was originally published in March 2021 on my website at https://artemis.sh/2021/03/21/your-antibot-is-not-accessible.html. I'm reposting it here in chost format.
While I did not explore it in the original post, I suggest considering this in synthesis with Discord Holds the Keys to Your Heart; Discord's staunch stance against client modifications has been a constant source of accessibility struggles for huge swathes of people, in the same way that game anti-cheat is. Thanks to @sapphicfettucine for pointing out this parallel to me. VRChat's move to using anticheat also falls into this problem space.
Abstract: Input sequencing and automation tools such as autohotkey scripts, hardware macros, auto-clickers, and turbo buttons are important accessibility tools that allow people with disabilities to play games they’d otherwise be unable to play. These tools are often banned in multiplayer titles, particularly MMORPGs, in the name of fairness and bot prevention. I argue that these tools should be allowed, or even implemented within the game itself. With the recognition that a line has to be drawn somewhere, I suggest that a tool should be classified as a bot only if it automatically makes meaningful decisions in response to stimuli provided directly by the game, creating a feedback loop that does not involve the player. Further, I suggest that in the games that can’t allow external tools fairly, first-party accessibility features can still make the game playable for more people.
1. Who needs these tools?
constantly thinking about this as a debilitating rsi sufferer