In a spontaneous Twitter thread, Ubisoft accessibility project manager David Tisserand noted that the vast majority of players wished to keep subtitles on throughout the game.
Gotta admit, I’m a big fan of subtitles in games myself. I wish I knew why, but there’s something nice about the extra bit of clarity they can provide to dialogue or when the action is so intense you can’t really make heads or tails what anyone is saying. It would appear that I’m not the only person who favours the use of subtitles in games as David Tisserand of Ubisoft has revealed some interesting statistics regarding the use of subtitles in the publisher’s games via a thread on his personal Twitter account. Back in 2018, Ubisoft stated that 60% of Assassin’s Creed: Origin’s players turned subtitles on and now there’s even more numbers to support the subtitle love.
Tisserand stated that 97% of players in Far Cry: New Dawn didn’t turn off the subtitles that were automatically enabled and a similar number can be found in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey with 95% of players never turning the subtitles off. In The Division 2, a game that’s far less reliant on its narrative, 75% of players turned subtitles on during their time with the game. If anything, these numbers prove that it’s not just the deaf community that utilise subtitles while playing video games but a large majority of players prefer to have them on.
Sure, you could argue these statistics aren’t 100% accurate because it doesn’t account for people simply not turning them off or for how long players kept them on. Regardless, I find that subtitles are a much needed comfort when playing games even as someone who can hear perfectly well. What are your feelings on subtitles? They do it for you or nah?
Last Updated: June 27, 2019
Admiral Chief Umbra
June 27, 2019 at 13:51
Subtitles for lyf
Umar
June 27, 2019 at 13:56
Yes, they really are quite important. Also, font size needs to be a thing as well because F them tiny ass Zoolander words
G8crasha
June 27, 2019 at 13:56
Sometimes you need context as to why you are doing something in a game!
Dutch Matrix
June 27, 2019 at 14:03
I used to turn on sub-titles when I watched porn, but got bored reading “Oooh. Ah. Oooh Ah. Yes. It is so big. Oooh. Ah”
Original Heretic
June 27, 2019 at 14:06
The subs distract me from the cut scene. I end up reading instead of looking at the amazing work the game devs have put in.
Pariah
June 27, 2019 at 14:11
YES! this x 1000
Dutch Matrix
June 27, 2019 at 14:11
I read so fast that by the time the voice actors get to the last lines, I am bored out of my skull.
MaSeKind
June 27, 2019 at 14:19
Am busy playing Observation and they actually do the sync subs to voice so you’re not tempted to read ahead
Original Heretic
June 27, 2019 at 14:33
With the games being more like interactive movies these days, I give the voice actors their due.
Matthew Holliday
June 28, 2019 at 13:24
Only if the work the devs have done, is actually amazing.
Pariah
June 27, 2019 at 14:11
I HATE subtitles. They distract me from the game as I’m too busy reading them to actually watch the gameplay. It’s especially noticeable in Witcher.
Yahtzee
June 27, 2019 at 14:11
I am someone who turns the music down when I get close to my destination in a car… subtitles are on in any game due to my amazing concentration skills.
kieker
June 27, 2019 at 14:11
As someone who is very deaf, yes please! I had meningitis as a baby, and have lost quite a bit of hearing in both ears. I cannot follow story (movies/games/series/etc.) at all if I don’t have subtitles. It is the main reason I got into anime. I would love to re-play a few games without the subtitle option (ie. soul reaver) with subtitles on, i feel like i missed so much of what was actually going on.
For the Emperor!
June 27, 2019 at 14:34
As long as it is optional. I do prefer putting it on at least for cinematics. But it depends on the game. Mass Effect type games = always on 🙂
Mark Treloar
June 27, 2019 at 16:24
If a game launches for the first time and gives me the option to turn them off I do. If it doesn’t I can’t be bothered to go find the option to do so.
Matthew Holliday
June 28, 2019 at 13:24
Reading is quicker, read line, skip to next, read line, skip to next.
In Odyssey its pretty much constant, aint nobody got time for all those super average NPC backstories.
Jbumi
June 28, 2019 at 14:25
First two things I do when I start a new game – turn off vibration & turn on subtitles. Heck, I use closed captions on the tv now – sick of misunderstanding the mumblers (for example, I was at a friend’s house & we were watching tv – she doesn’t use cc; she said she was watching a show about a guy conning this rich woman into marriage. I said if that’s the case why did he tell her he’s sorry he “can’t get a divorce”. She looked at me quizzically & we rewound the show to the scene in question. She informed me that what he actually said was (referring to a purchase he couldn’t afford) he’s sorry he “can’t get it for us”. She uses the cc now when I come over!!)