Adam Keyte - Game Design Consultant

About

I'm a game design consultant with twenty years of shipped titles across AAA, indie and mobile studios, from Codemasters to Asobo Studio. My specialism is making complex systems approachable - through systems design, player-focused UX, and accessibility.

Most recently I served as Senior Systems Designer and Accessibility Lead on Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024: I designed its Screen Narrator, led new-user onboarding, and took the project through Microsoft's accessibility certification at the first attempt. It scored 91 on Metacritic, with specific praise for its approachability. Earlier credits run from the LMA Manager franchise to a UKLA Digital Book Award winner for children.

I'm a Certified Accessible Player Experience Practitioner (AbleGamers, 2024) and a full voting member of BAFTA Games.

I work with indie and small studios primarily on console and PC projects, though I'm platform-agnostic and happy to discuss mobile opportunities.

Services

Accessibility Consulting

Accessibility audits and implementation guidance against platform requirements, including Microsoft's Xbox accessibility guidelines - the standard I took Flight Simulator through at the first attempt. I help teams design accessibility in from the start rather than retrofitting it before certification, and I audit against the actual player experience rather than a feature checklist: "has subtitles" can be true and useless at the same time.

Try it - these controls change the sample panel beside them:

Sample settings screen

Subtitles are on, and the speaker is always named. Every option below also works from a controller.

Damage dealt

Recovery rate

Each of these is an option I have argued for and shipped in real titles.

Systems Design

Design and balance of progression mechanics, economies and core gameplay loops, from hardcore simulation to free-to-play. Past examples include a fantasy-squad economy balanced per league and a club training system rebuilt as a long-horizon investment decision. I favour systems that stay maintainable after I leave.

UX & Player Experience

Onboarding, tutorials, UI flows and quality-of-life features, grounded in player research - on Flight Simulator that meant a measured research loop with Xbox User Research from 2018 to launch. I find where new players actually get stuck, then design what makes a complex system approachable without flattening the depth your veterans came for.

Additional Services

Live Operations Design

Content roadmap planning, update cadence strategy, and live service feature design. I've delivered 4 years of regular GaaS post-launch content for the Flight Simulator franchise and managed synchronized daily content for F2P mobile titles.

Licensed IP Collaboration

Working with established brands and their rights holders: my licensed credits span BBC Worldwide, ITV, Channel 5, Endemol UK, Hachette and the International Cricket Council. I know what an approval process needs from a design team, and how to keep creative quality intact while giving a protective licensor reasons to say yes.

Documentation & Content

Create and maintain design documentation, wikis, player-facing content, dialogue writing, and instructional text. Clear documentation prevents miscommunication and keeps teams aligned.

Generalist Game Design

Broad game design support across feature design, gameplay balancing, and content creation. Happy to supplement your team wherever you need an experienced pair of hands.

Current Availability

I'm available for short-term contracts starting immediately.

Available Now

Let's Talk

Interested in working together? Reach out via LinkedIn to discuss your project.

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