The Quarry | Motor Accessibility-Related Options

Screenshot of The Quarry title page
Screenshot of The Quarry title page

The Quarry [PEGI 18] is a standalone interactive drama horror title from developers Supermassive Games, available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S and Windows PC.  In a similar style to the developer’s previous games, the player’s choices in-game have far reaching consequences affecting the routes and dialogue options further into the game, and, of course, who may or may not survive unharmed.

The game features a range of accessibility options which can customise the gameplay experience. In this post we will be looking at the options which may help with the motor accessibility of the game on Xbox One, but the control options are the same for Xbox, PlayStation and PC. Testing and screenshots were taken on the Xbox One X version of the game.

The information in this post is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing (October 2022).

Controller Menu

Within The Quarry settings is a Controller menu which allows the player to turn On/Off controller vibration as well as choose between two control layout presets – primary and alternate. In either layout, you can use either the Left or Right Joystick to select choices for Quick Time Events (QTEs).

Irrespective of layout choice the following buttons will always be mapped as follows for Xbox One:

A: Confirm/Select

B: Cancel/Back

RT: Shoot

LB: Walk Faster

Primary layout is more of the standardised layout for games, with Left Stick for walking, and Right Stick for controlling the camera and aiming with a weapon.

Alternate is set out like a Southpaw mode with Right Stick controlling walking, and Left Stick for camera and aiming.

Screenshots of the primary and alternate layouts side by side.
Screenshots of the primary and alternate layouts side by side.

Accessibility Menu

In the Accessibility Menu you will find several options to help with input access relating to Choice Timers, QTEs and Interrupt Speed as well as other game-specific options.

The Accessibility Menu can be found within the Settings and changes at any time during gameplay via the Settings.

Please note that Settings changes do not work in the Wolf Pack feature.

Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the default Simple QTE option.
Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the default Simple QTE option.
Simple QTEs

The game features Simple QTEs which at Default require joysticks to be moved in the specified direction. Within this menu, Any allows you to use any joystick direction or D-pad instead, if one particular movement is more challenging. You can also choose Auto, where the Simple QTE will always succeed.

Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Auto Simple QTE option.
Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Auto Simple QTE option.
QTE Speed

Alongside Simple QTEs, QTE Speed can help if you are finding it difficult. QTE Speed enables you to adjust the speed as follows:

Default: the default timer speed for the QTE

Min: shortens the timer for QTEs

Medium: slightly increases the timer speed from default

Long: significantly increases the timer for the QTEs

Max: the maximum length of time for the QTE the game allows

Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Max Timer for QTE speed.
Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Max Timer for QTE speed.
Choice Timer

Your choices in the game can have far-reaching consequences, so sometimes the default timer for those decisions may not be enough time. In this menu you can choose to increase the choice timer to give yourself enough time to make the decision.

Default: the default length of time for the Choice Timer

Medium: slightly increases the timer length from default

Long: significantly increases the timer length

Max: the maximum length of time for the Choice Timer

Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Max option for the Choice Timer.
Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Max option for the Choice Timer.
Interrupt Speed

During gameplay you may encounter moments where you can observe an event in progress. You may be prompted to choose whether to intervene or not. This is called an Interrupt. You can adjust the length of the Interrupt timer in the Accessibility Menu.

Default: the default timer speed for Interrupts

Auto: all Interrupts will be triggered

Medium: slightly increases the timer speed from default

Long: significantly increases the timer for Interrupts choice

Max: the maximum length of time for the Interrupt choice the game allows

Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Auto option for the Interrupt Speed.
Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Auto option for the Interrupt Speed.
Button Mash

Some actions in the game require repeated button presses (Button Mash). The game also gives options for those who find repeated button mashing difficult.

Default: within a time limit you must press the prompted button enough times

Hold: within the time limit, press and hold the indicated button

Tap: within the time limit, tap the indicated button once to progress

Auto: all Button Mash events will automatically succeed

Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Auto option for Button Mash events.
Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Auto option for Button Mash events.
Don’t Breathe

Like most horror games, they will not be complete without being able to find a place to hide when being hunted. The Quarry is no different and when you need to hide it triggers an event called Don’t Breathe. Under Default the aim is to press a button to get your character to hold their breath until the coast is clear. However, if pressing and holding a button for a long period of time is difficult, the game has an Auto option where the event will automatically succeed as the story intends.

Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Auto option for Don't Breathe events.
Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Auto option for Don’t Breathe events.
Aim Assist

Within parts of the game, you will be able to use a weapon. The game offers an Aim Assist which can help guide you towards your target.

Off: no target guidance given

On: aim will be guided towards the target

Auto: combat encounters will automatically succeed – no aiming required

Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows Aim Assist option turned on.
Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows Aim Assist option turned on.
Death Rewind

Death Rewind is a feature that enables you to replay the last scene to prevent a death of a character during certain events, though sometimes your previous choices will have already determined this outcome.

You can choose a total of three death rewinds in a playthrough. To use this feature, choose to Use A Life and you will be taken back to the root cause of the death to enable you to choose a different path in the hopes of saving the character.

You can turn On/Off Death Rewind in this menu.

Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Death Rewind option is turned on.
Screenshot of the Accessibility Menu. It shows the Death Rewind option is turned on.

Other Display Settings

Display Settings

Here you can adjust the screen brightness and access any add-ons (such as Character Packs and Filters).

Screenshot of the Display Menu.
Screenshot of the Display Menu.
Camera Settings

The game features several camera settings. Some enable you to invert the X and Y axis of the Camera Joystick.

You can also adjust the Look Sensitivity of your Camera Joystick to suit your needs.

Screenshot of the Camera Menu. It shows the Invert Y Axis is turned off.
Screenshot of the Camera Menu. It shows the Invert Y Axis is turned off.
Movie Mode

If you find that you would enjoy the story but cannot access the controls to play, the game has a Movie Mode which plays out the story as if watching a film with predefined outcomes.  

Screenshot of Movie Mode.
Screenshot of Movie Mode
Wolf Pack and Couch Co-op

Wolf Pack is a mode which enables you to host up to seven friends to play online and as a group decide on the fate of the characters as you play.

Similarly, Couch Co-op mode enables you to play as a group, but local play (i.e. the same room on the same console). You can choose which characters each of your group would like to act as and the game will prompt you when to pass your controller to the next person.

Screenshot of the Couch CO-OP.
Screenshot of the Couch CO-OP.

We hope that this post has been useful. If you have any questions about motor accessibility in video games, please visit the ‘Contact Us’ page.

Developer Resource:

SpecialEffect DevKit logo

For more video examples of how developers have improved the motor accessibility of their games, please visit https://specialeffectdevkit.info/