{"id":36320,"date":"2024-05-17T13:54:12","date_gmt":"2024-05-17T11:54:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/?p=36320"},"modified":"2024-05-17T14:29:59","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T12:29:59","slug":"video-game-localization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/video-game-localization\/","title":{"rendered":"Video Game Localization: How to successfully expand globally"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"acf\/text-block_f43963004a50ec75b2c146633d658804\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--text alignfull spacing--default bg--white\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg animate-in\">\n\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ever since <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/emea.battlegrounds.pubg.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PUBG: Battlegrounds<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> launched in 2017, the online video game from South Korea has turned into a truly global hit. With 12 localized language versions and marketing trimmed to specific geographies, staggeringly it has been downloaded <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/best-selling-video-games-of-all-time-grand-theft-auto-minecraft-tetris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">over <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1bn times worldwide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and is the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/best-selling-video-games-of-all-time-grand-theft-auto-minecraft-tetris\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5th best-selling video game<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of all time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you also aspire for your video game to compete on a global scale, making it fit for each of your target markets is essential. Meeting the cultural preferences of players not only encourages initial adoption but also contributes to sustained engagement. To maximize these benefits, you need a well-defined video game localization strategy and robust technology.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Overview<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/video-game-localization\/#what-is-video-game-localization\" title=\"What is video game localization?\">What is video game localization?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/video-game-localization\/#the-rise-of-the-global-video-game-market\" title=\"The rise of the global video game market\">The rise of the global video game market<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/video-game-localization\/#why-is-video-game-localization-important\" title=\"Why is video game localization important?\">Why is video game localization important?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/video-game-localization\/#how-to-localize-your-video-game\" title=\"How to localize your video game\">How to localize your video game<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/video-game-localization\/#why-is-video-game-localization-important-2\" title=\"Why is video game localization important?\">Why is video game localization important?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/video-game-localization\/#key-challenges-in-game-localization\" title=\"Key challenges in game localization\">Key challenges in game localization<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/video-game-localization\/#addressing-challenges\" title=\"Addressing Challenges\">Addressing Challenges<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/video-game-localization\/#best-practices-for-quality-game-localization\" title=\"Best practices for quality game localization\">Best practices for quality game localization<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/video-game-localization\/#strategic-planning-is-the-key-to-effective-game-localization\" title=\"Strategic planning is the key to effective game localization\u00a0\">Strategic planning is the key to effective game localization\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-is-video-game-localization\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is video game localization?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Video game localization is the process of adapting a video game to the culture and language of players in a target market.<\/strong> It encompasses elements such as spoken dialogues and instructions, characters, game manuals, marketing assets, and many more. That\u2019s why <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/how-important-is-localization-for-your-business\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">localization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in video gaming often involves many stakeholders, from product managers and developers to translators and marketing specialists.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>To help you kickstart your journey, this guide breaks down why localization matters for thriving in the global video game market and outlines its key advantages. You will also discover common pitfalls to steer clear of and practical guidelines on setting up your game localization process for long-term success.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the-rise-of-the-global-video-game-market\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rise of the global video game market<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The global gaming market is on a steady rise. In 2024 projected revenue is set to reach <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/outlook\/dmo\/digital-media\/video-games\/worldwide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$282bn<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0seeing rapid growth over the past few years, mainly through mobile games. Their advantage over console games is that they\u2019re accessible to anyone with a smartphone. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global video game market revenue is set to grow at an<a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/outlook\/dmo\/digital-media\/video-games\/worldwide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> annual rate of 8.76% between 2024 and 2027<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and is expected to reach <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwc.com\/gx\/en\/industries\/tmt\/media\/outlook\/outlook-perspectives.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$363bn by 2027<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014with China, the United States, and Japan being the dominant game markets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.statcdn.com\/Infographic\/images\/normal\/25593.jpeg\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"utility\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of the world&#8217;s largest video game markets are non-English speaking (source: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/chart\/25593\/biggest-video-game-markets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Statista<\/span><\/a>)<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why-is-video-game-localization-important\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why is video game localization important?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As there might be many linguistic and cultural differences between your home market and your target markets, achieving global reach with the same version of your game in one language across all markets is unlikely. Below are the elements that usually vary from region to region:<br \/>\n<b><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Language: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if many global players speak English, there is a risk that they will misunderstand the game if it isn\u2019t adapted to their native language. &#8220;Tony Hawk\u2019s Pro Skater&#8221; is a localization example that shows the importance of linguistic adaptation. In Europe, the name of the US video game is &#8220;Tony Hawk\u2019s Skateboarding&#8221;, so that customers don\u2019t confuse it with ice skating.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cultural references: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adapting references to the local culture and history is important as they may vary a lot between countries. For example, one of the most popular Chinese games, &#8220;Honor of Kings&#8221; launched under the name &#8220;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pocketgamer.biz\/news\/66402\/honour-of-kings-launches-as-arena-of-valor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arena of Valor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; in Western markets. Indeed, only the Chinese version of the name contains the word \u2018Kings\u2019 because in the history of China, monarchs have played a central role whereas in several Western regions, such as the US, there has never been a king.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Local tastes: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Local players have more chances to enjoy a game if the designs and appearance fit their tastes and expectations because<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">local culture<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has a significant impact on brand preferences and loyalty. The Japanese video game developer and publisher Irem understood this well. In the localized US version of their game \u2018S.O.S The Final Escape\u2019, most of the characters have blonde hair, whereas they had dark hair in the Japanese version.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b><\/b><b>Local legislation: <\/b>It might be necessary to remove or adapt sensitive content. One of the<a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-examples\/\"> localization examples<\/a> that shows how local regulation needs to be considered is Nintendo&#8217;s Super Mario Kart. In the Japanese version of the game, two characters drink champagne after winning a race. Nintendo of America&#8217;s policies didn&#8217;t allow depictions of drinking in games, which required changing the animations.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36329 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/super-mario-kart-bowser.png\" alt=\"Super Mario Kart's Bowser character in Japan vs the USA | Phrase\" width=\"1594\" height=\"835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/super-mario-kart-bowser.png 1594w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/super-mario-kart-bowser-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/super-mario-kart-bowser-1024x536.png 1024w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/super-mario-kart-bowser-768x402.png 768w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/super-mario-kart-bowser-1536x805.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1594px) 100vw, 1594px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: center;\">Comparison of Bowser, the character from Mario Kart, in the Japanese version (left) and the American version (right) <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a9 <a href=\"https:\/\/themushroomkingdom.net\/smk_j2e.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Mushroom Kingdom<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-to-localize-your-video-game\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to localize your video game<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if each game localization process is different, it\u2019s useful to create a model that explains the key steps.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Define your localization requirements<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The localization strategy is the long-term plan that will guide your<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/product-localization\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> product localization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and will ensure that your game fits your target markets. At this stage, you should consider your game genre, your target audience, your target countries, and your budget. It\u2019s also necessary to collect and assess the source content of your game to identify which text and non-text in-game content needs to be localized.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main aspects that will influence the rest of the localization process and the final localized versions of your games include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When to localize your game: Will it take place parallel to game development or after?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which translation and localization technology provider you will rely on: Will the platform allow you to centralize your localization projects in one place and automate workflows? The tool should suit both your development and your localization teams.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who will be responsible for localization: If you don\u2019t have any in-house staff who can handle localization, will you outsource localization to a game localization services provider or freelancer.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Create a localization kit<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A localization kit is a way to convey the guidelines of your strategy to your translators. This document includes relevant information about your game\u2019s story, your characters, and your voice. A localization kit will help translators and localization QA testers localize your game and, if they have all the information they need, they won\u2019t ask you many questions during translation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Prepare your code for localization<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Internationalization is the process of designing and developing a digital product so that it can be localized. This step will save you time and effort during the rest of the localization process. Your development team should remove strings from your code to make sure that the game isn\u2019t hard-coded.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Translate content assets<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This step is a lengthy process in itself and often requires a lot of back-and-forth communication between the localization and development teams. Your localization team will translate your strings on the translation editor of your localization solution. During the translation process, translators will use your localization kit to remain consistent with the tone of your game. This part of the process is also about translating audio content, such as dialogues between the characters, and subtitles. For instance, if you choose to dub the dialogues, the characters\u2019 voices should be recorded in your target languages.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Perform Language Quality Assurance<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once all the text is localized, it\u2019s important to review the linguistic quality of the text. Proofreaders will go through the translations to identify and correct any spelling, grammar, or syntax mistakes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Assemble and test your localized game<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, you\u2019ll need to pull all the adapted parts back into the game and have native-speaking game testers check the localized versions of your game. Allocating time for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/why-you-should-give-localization-testing-top-priority\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">localization testing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is important because translations without any mistakes outside the game might not actually fit the context, for example, if the translated text doesn\u2019t fit the space allocated for it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why-is-video-game-localization-important-2\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why is video game localization important?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As there might be many linguistic and cultural differences between your home market and your target markets, achieving global reach with the same version of your game in one language across all markets is unlikely. Below are the elements that usually vary from region to region:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Language: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if many global players speak English, there is a risk that they will misunderstand the game if it isn\u2019t adapted to their native language. &#8220;Tony Hawk\u2019s Pro Skater&#8221; is a localization example that shows the importance of linguistic adaptation. In Europe, the name of the video game from the US is &#8220;Tony Hawk\u2019s Skateboarding&#8221; so that customers don\u2019t confuse it with ice skating.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Cultural references:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Adapting references to the local culture and history is important as they may vary a lot between countries. For example, one of the most popular Chinese games, &#8220;Honor of Kings&#8221; launched under the name &#8220;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pocketgamer.biz\/news\/66402\/honour-of-kings-launches-as-arena-of-valor\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arena of Valor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; in Western markets. Indeed, only the Chinese version of the name contains the word \u2018Kings\u2019 because in the history of China, monarchs have played a central role whereas in several Western regions, such as the US, there has never been a king.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Local tastes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Local players have more chances to enjoy a game if the designs and appearance fit their tastes and expectations because <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">local culture<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0has a significant impact on brand preferences and loyalty. The Japanese video game developer and publisher Irem understood this well. In the localized US version of their game \u2018S.O.S The Final Escape\u2019, most of the characters have blonde hair, whereas they had dark hair in the Japanese version.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b style=\"color: #505050; font-family: Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', 'Noto Sans', 'Liberation Sans', Arial, sans-serif;\">Local legislation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It might be necessary to remove or adapt sensitive content. One of the <\/span><a style=\"font-family: Inter, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', 'Noto Sans', 'Liberation Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/localization-examples\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">localization examples<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that shows how local regulation needs to be considered is Nintendo&#8217;s Super Mario Kart. In the Japanese version of the game, two characters drink champagne after winning a race. Nintendo of America&#8217;s policies didn&#8217;t allow depictions of drinking in games, which required changing the animations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/blog-cta-block_3ea0617dca6d75648d0da2ddc63b4ab5\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--blog-cta alignfull bg--green image--orientation-portrait\">\n\t<div class=\"block-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image image--align-middle\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1700\" height=\"2200\" src=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover.png\" class=\"attachment-original size-original\" alt=\"Localization best practice ebook cover | Phrase\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover.png 1700w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-791x1024.png 791w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-768x994.png 768w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-1187x1536.png 1187w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Localization_Best_Practices_Ebook_Cover-1583x2048.png 1583w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1700px) 100vw, 1700px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"subhead\">Free download<\/p>\n<p class=\"h6\">Best practices for developing effective localization strategies<\/p>\n<p class=\"small\">Explore how to tackle localization management efficiently and engage customers across the globe in their native languages and local experiences.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn--outline\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/resources\/localization-best-practices\/\">Download ebook<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/text-block_05a5e6b8ead792b5d713b7de875f9817\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--text alignfull spacing--default bg--white\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg animate-in\">\n\t\t\t<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"key-challenges-in-game-localization\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key challenges in game localization<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A video game&#8217;s localization often poses some challenges. To help you anticipate these pitfalls and plan accordingly, here are some\u00a0 of the usual hurdles.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Inefficient procedures and lack of understanding<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The process is challenging to streamline because of constant back-and-forth between stakeholders. For example, game developers have to answer a large number of questions&#8212;often leading to communication delays. Plus, translators often don\u2019t understand the context well, causing translation mistakes.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Acquiring and retaining talent<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding and retaining talent is especially important in the context of mobile games. Unlike console games, which represent a finalized product, mobile game development is an ongoing process. To sustain a consistent level of quality, it\u2019s crucial to keep a dedicated group of linguists on board.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Cutting language quality assurance (LQA) time short<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the LQA process consists of checking the translations for mistakes, it happens at the end\u2014right before the release. That\u2019s when the pressure on the release is the highest. Cutting the LQA time is risky as it causes mistakes in the localized game.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Little consideration for localization<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s common that companies see localization as an afterthought compared to the design and development of the game. Therefore, you might be tempted to buy game localization services at low rates. This would be a risky choice as the video game localizer might not accurately translate. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a particularly sensitive point in game localization because there are usually a lot of technical terms in video games. Plus, if there are delays during game design and development, it might seem like an easy solution to cut the time allocated to localization.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Timing<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You can implement game localization parallel to the general game development, or after. Both options have pros and cons. On the one hand, localizing during game development takes a lot of time and resources, and requires certainty about the markets to target. Moreover, it might be inefficient if game development takes place in a fast-paced and stressful environment.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, it\u2019s a good approach if your game is released on an international scale. Companies that have limited financial resources often choose the option to localize after the initial game release. However, it might be more difficult to adapt a fully finished and released game because it\u2019s not possible to localize some of its parts.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"addressing-challenges\"><\/span><strong>Addressing Challenges<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overcoming challenges such as timing, talent acquisition, consideration for localization and quality assurance is key to successful game localization. Starting localization early avoids it being an afterthought and tackles potential code or user interface issues. Acquiring and retaining the right talent, especially those with a passion for language and openness to feedback, is crucial. Implementing efficient query management strategies, like direct stakeholder communication and using platforms for discussion, streamlines the process.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/blog-cta-block_3af1f816024173d8a8af1ad7ef48bca5\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--blog-cta bg--outline image--orientation-square\">\n\t<div class=\"block-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"subhead\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Dive deeper<\/p>\n<p class=\"h6\" style=\"text-align: center;\">What is internationalization (i18n)?<\/p>\n<p class=\"small\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Discover why software can effectively adapt to the cultures and languages of global users only through the technical process of internationalization.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn--primary\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/blog\/posts\/i18n-a-simple-definition\/\">Explore definition<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/text-block_59ed6487254465ea26869449ba689e30\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--text alignfull spacing--default bg--white\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg animate-in\">\n\t\t\t<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"best-practices-for-quality-game-localization\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Best practices for quality game localization<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Game localization is a critical element that ensures your video game resonates with players across different cultures. By implementing best practices and addressing common challenges early on, developers can significantly enhance the quality and appeal of their games globally.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Incorporate Localization Strategy Early<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To achieve high-quality game localization, it&#8217;s essential to plan localization from the beginning of the game development process. This involves separating content from code and making your game adaptable to longer character lengths, various fonts, and formats. Early planning also facilitates stakeholder involvement and allows for the inclusion of technical requirements that accommodate different languages and cultural nuances.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Professional Linguists and Team Involvement<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utilizing professional linguists who may not necessarily have a background in gaming but understand your game and are committed to the project is crucial. Involvement in game testing and feedback is encouraged to ensure high-quality translations. Building a strong team atmosphere, whether through in-house teams, freelancers, or language service providers, supports quality localization. It\u2019s important that all team members, including developers, artists, and marketers, understand the localization workflow and their role within it.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Open Communication and Query Management<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simplifying the communication process by allowing stakeholders to directly interact with each other can reduce response times to linguists&#8217; queries and make the localization process more efficient. Integrating query management into localization technology platforms helps manage queries effectively, ensuring they become a routine part of the workflow. Direct communication among developers, in-house translators, and external providers can optimize this process.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Leverage Technology<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next generation localization technologies, such as the AI-powered Phrase Localization Platform, play a pivotal role. These technologies offer solutions for managing localization projects, tracking translation progress, and controlling localization costs. Features like translation vendor management and workflow automation capabilities are instrumental in adapting video games quickly and effortlessly.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective game localization enhances a game&#8217;s global appeal and player experience. It should be an integral part of the game strategy from the start, given equal importance as graphics, sound, and gameplay. By addressing the challenges of timing, talent, and query management, and leveraging modern technologies, developers can ensure that their game localization efforts are not just an afterthought but a cornerstone of their game&#8217;s success.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Designed with the whole team in mind, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/platform\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phrase Localization <\/span>Platform<\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can make your game localization painless from start to finish. The complete localization solution is able to seamlessly integrate with the continuous development process of agile development teams. Among other <a href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/solutions\/game-localization\/\">game localization features<\/a>, Phrase offers translation vendor management and workflow automation capabilities to make it simpler for teams of any size to adapt video games quickly and effortlessly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/blog-cta-block_531462b3ebd9dc9237c379751cc0de3d\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--blog-cta alignfull bg--grey image--orientation-landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"block-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image image--align-middle\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1890\" height=\"1730\" src=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/phrase-localization-suite.png\" class=\"attachment-original size-original\" alt=\"Phrase localization platform key visual | Phrase\" srcset=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/phrase-localization-suite.png 1890w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/phrase-localization-suite-300x275.png 300w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/phrase-localization-suite-1024x937.png 1024w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/phrase-localization-suite-768x703.png 768w, https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/phrase-localization-suite-1536x1406.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1890px) 100vw, 1890px\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"h6\">Unlock global business with the Phrase Localization Platform<\/p>\n<p class=\"small\">Expand into new markets with all the tools you need in one technology suite for high-quality, fast, and scalable localization.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn--outline\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/platform\/\">Explore Phrase Platform<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/text-block_020d7adbf83682b780b4696f7ba31c5f\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--text alignfull spacing--default bg--white\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wysiwyg animate-in\">\n\t\t\t<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"strategic-planning-is-the-key-to-effective-game-localization\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strategic planning is the key to effective game localization\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to taking a video game global, the stakes are high due to the rapid rise of the global video game industry. Customizing video games for local markets is often necessary due to the numerous local specificities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since game localization can improve the game adoption by local players, it often brings an increase in revenue and in the number of long-term customers. However, it can become a complicated process with many stakeholders involved.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To make the process a success, it\u2019s essential to take localization into consideration as early as possible and ensure direct and quick communication between everyone involved. In that regard, relying on modern localization technology, like the Phrase Localization Platform, can help you make the most of game localization in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"acf\/blog-cta-block_3a57623fb7014caf8a8bcf7cb1078254\" class=\"pxblock pxblock--blog-cta alignfull bg--green image--orientation-square\">\n\t<div class=\"block-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"h4\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Speak with an expert<\/p>\n<p class=\"small\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Want to learn how our solutions can help you unlock global opportunity? We\u2019d be happy to show you around the Phrase Localization Platform and answer any questions you may have.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn--outline\" href=\"https:\/\/phrase.com\/demo\/\">Book a call<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understand why localization is vital for thriving in the global video game market and get practical insights on setting up your game localization process for long-lasting success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":89126,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"class_list":["post-36320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-localization-strategy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36320"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36320"}],"version-history":[{"count":64,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36320\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87003,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36320\/revisions\/87003"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/89126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phrase.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}