Audio description (AD) plays a vital role in making video content accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. When done well, it can enhance the video experience for everyone. Let’s consider specific examples of how Blizzard Entertainment masterfully implements audio description in their lore video for the Overwatch character Kiriko.
Overwatch and accessibility
Overwatch, launched in 2016, stands as one of the most successful team-based first-person shooters in gaming history, with over 60 million players globally.
With approximately 2.2 billion people worldwide living with a vision disability, making accessible gaming content isn’t just good practice, it’s essential for expanding the potential audience for Overwatch and other video games.
Understanding audio description
Audio description is a secondary narration track that describes visual elements in media during natural pauses in dialogue and sound effects. In the context of gaming content, it helps convey the rich visual storytelling that makes games compelling while ensuring the information is accessible to all viewers.
Providing audio descriptions is required under the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.2. The WCAG standards are organized by three levels of priority — A, AA, and AAA — with A being the highest and most essential. With respect to audio descriptions, the guidelines are:
- Level A: 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded): Provide a text transcript that includes audio descriptions.
- Level AA: 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded): Provide standard audio descriptions, which occur between pauses in dialogue and do not pause the video.
- Level AAA: 1.2.7 Extended Audio Description (Prerecorded): Provide extended audio descriptions, which pause the video in order to provide extra detail.
No matter which level of compliance we are striving for, we need to include audio descriptions when publishing multimedia content.
Analysis of Overwatch’s audio description techniques
Let’s examine several examples from the Kiriko lore video that demonstrate effective audio description practices. All of these clips are taken from the audio-described version of the video; you can also play the video without audio description if desired.
Examples
1: Announcement of onscreen text
The video begins with text elements appearing in quick, silent succession, and they are quickly announced by the audio describer:
“Rated T for Teen. A card: Blizzard Entertainment presents Kiriko.”
This straightforward audio description ensures viewers don’t miss the important (and rapidly presented) text-based information. Furthermore, it does not read every bit of information — such as what “T for Teen” means with respect to content (violence, blood, and so on) — because there are only a few available seconds to summarize the opening title cards. Therefore, the narrator focuses on what is most important: the rating, the studio name, and the title.
2: Communicating non-verbal information
When introducing a new character, the audio description provides essential context about the character’s communication methods:
“A little girl, Akari, sits on the floor with a big smile. She waves and signs the name Kiriko.”
This description not only introduces a character (Akari), but also establishes that sign language is being used—information crucial for understanding subsequent interactions. Because Akari is non-verbal, the audio description must include her dialogue.
3: Letting dialogue provide audio descriptions
Later, at around 0:31 in the video, we have an excellent example of letting dialogue do the audio describer’s work.
Mr. Yoshido: “I hope you and your mother enjoy them.”
Kiriko: “She’s here?”
In the clip, Mr. Yoshido motions behind him with his thumb to indicate the presence of Kiriko’s mother.
Why isn’t the gesture described? Because it would be superfluous for the audio-describer to announce what the dialogue already reveals: Kiriko’s mother is here. So, the audio-describer let’s Mr. Yoshido and Kiriko share this information with the viewer, rather than adding more description where it isn’t needed. This demonstrates how good audio description works in harmony with existing dialogue.
4: Using sentence fragments if time is limited
At approximately 1:59, the audio-describer shows how sentence fragments can be effective when a pause in dialogue is very brief:
Kiriko’s mother: “I’m not overreacting.”
[Audio description: “The donuts.”]
Kiriko’s mother: “Please tell me this is not your dinner.”
This brief description — “the donuts” — fits perfectly in a two-second pause, and provides essential context for understanding the interaction between Kiriko and her mother.
5: Summarizing description in action sequences
During an action sequence (5:53), the audio description shows remarkable restraint. An intense fight is summarized:
“Knocking a goon against a wall.”
Rather than describing every punch, kick, and micro-movement, the description focuses on key moments and allows the sound design to carry much of the action. This selective approach lets viewers experience the carefully crafted sound effects and music while still following the essential narrative.
6: Balancing cultural context with audience awareness
The audio-describer uses terms like “kunai” and “oni mask” without extensive explanation, recognizing that the target audience for Overwatch content likely has familiarity with these Japanese cultural elements.
This choice respects both the pace of the narrative and the viewer’s presumed knowledge base.
7: Letting emotion be communicated by the characters
At 8:46, near the video’s conclusion, Kiriko’s mother begins to cry. The audio-describer lets the sound of her crying carry the scene’s poignancy, rather than a description of her crying.
This demonstrates how audio description can step back when audio cues effectively convey the emotional content.
Beyond accessibility: universal benefits
On the YouTube page for the Kiriko video, a viewer commented: “I didn’t know I needed audio description until just now. It added so much that I didn’t know I needed and pushed the emotions further for me.” This highlights how audio description benefits all audiences, because it:
- Helps viewers catch subtle details they might otherwise miss
- Provides reinforcement of character names and relationships
- Assists viewers who may be multitasking or listening rather than watching
- Supports viewers who benefit from additional verbal cues about non-verbal actions
- Enhances understanding for viewers who may miss cultural or visual references
- Provides summaries of complex action sequences
Best practices demonstrated
The Kiriko video exemplifies several key principles of effective audio description:
- Selective Description: Not every visual element needs description; focus on what’s essential for understanding the story.
- Respect for Original Audio: Leave space for viewers to experience the original sound design and emotional moments.
- Efficient Language: Use concise language and even sentence fragments when appropriate to fit time constraints.
- Trust in Audience: Assume reasonable knowledge of context and don’t over-explain when dialogue or sound effects convey the information.
- Cultural Consideration: Balance the need for explanation with respect for cultural terms and concepts.
Conclusion
Blizzard’s implementation of audio description in the Kiriko video demonstrates how this accessibility technique can enhance storytelling while improving viewer inclusion. The video’s careful balance of description, original audio, and narrative pacing shows how audio description can be implemented effectively without compromising creative vision or emotional impact.
The success of this audio description also highlights the importance of considering accessibility features not as add-ons but as integral parts of content creation. When done well, these features enhance the experience for all viewers while ensuring content remains accessible to those who rely on such descriptions.
