Insights, tips & tricks to get the most out of game localization

Blog Posts

Translation vs. localization vs. internationalization: what’s the difference?

Translation vs. localization vs. internationalization: what’s the difference?

2023-04-20 | Ivan Belcic

Translation, localization, and internationalization can all seem confusingly similar at first glance. But if you dig a bit deeper, you’ll find critical distinctions separating the three. To localize well, you’ll need both good internationalization and translation on your side. Here, we’ll show you the differences between translation, internationalization, and localization, and how the three work together for optimal results.

The best localization events of 2023

The best localization events of 2023

2023-04-04 | Ivan Belcic

Looking to learn more about localization? Ready to take your skills up a few notches? 2023 is packed with exciting events overflowing with industry pros ready to share their best insights with you. Keep reading to learn about the top localization events of 2023 and start planning your next trip.

Ask the Game Experts: Localization FAQs Answered

Ask the Game Experts: Localization FAQs Answered

2022-06-10 | Ivan Belcic

We sat down with three industry pros to find out what they think are the most important things to consider. So whether you’re just getting started with localization or looking to improve your process, these experts will give you the insights you need.

Games Rule The App Stores: Most Popular Genres 2020-2021

Games Rule The App Stores: Most Popular Genres 2020-2021

2021-05-28 | Simon Hill

How different are the gamers' preferences in various regions? We'll take a look at the popularity of the games genres within the iOS and Google app stores and explore the most popular genres, comparing them by country. Some exclusive conference data is revealed too!

How To Publish Your Game To China - An Essential Guide For Mobile, Console And PC (2021)

How To Publish Your Game To China - An Essential Guide For Mobile, Console And PC (2021)

2021-03-03 | Dolly Dai

As a game localization company, we have helped over 600 games companies localize their games from English to Chinese. Just localizing your game into Chinese (Simplified) doesn't necessarily mean that you have entered the market successfully. In this guide, we'll explain how to get fully involved in the Chinese market and publish your game successfully on various platforms (PC, Console, Mobile).

Why You Should Localize Your Game For India ASAP

Why You Should Localize Your Game For India ASAP

2021-02-25 | CAROLINA SILVANDERSSON

India is a true mobile-first market. It has the second-largest smartphone user base in the world and is home to 10% of the global gaming audience. In this blog post, we'll dig deeper into what you should know about the Indian gaming market, and how you can succeed in India, from language specifications to cultural context.

Game Localization To Poland - Why Your Title Is Worth Being Translated Into Polish

Game Localization To Poland - Why Your Title Is Worth Being Translated Into Polish

2021-01-08 | Sonja Mirkovic

With 16 million players and consistent market and revenue growth, it is predicted that Poland could become the largest game dev hub in Central and Eastern Europe. It is the first country in the world which has introduced a video game into their education system (and it's not Cyberpunk 2077). Learn what can help you during the Polish localization process and what kind of preferences Polish gamers have.

Game Localization Into FIGS - Will It Still Matter In 2021?

Game Localization Into FIGS - Will It Still Matter In 2021?

2020-11-15 | Dolly Dai

FIGS is the sacred cow in the world of game localization - everyone’s doing it or starts their game translation push with these four languages. But is it still important? Shouldn't we switch to the other languages spoken in the regions like APAC or BRICS? Let's dig into the FIGS markets’ potential.

How Game Devs Use Halloween To Revitalize Their Gamers

How Game Devs Use Halloween To Revitalize Their Gamers

2020-10-27 | Slava Zaiets

While shops, restaurants and pretty much every mall gets into Halloween mode with pumpkins, skeletons and all things ghoulish, we take a look at video games. How are game developers integrating Halloween elements into their games? Let's see how you can treat your gamers and make your video game even more spooktacular.

The Top 5 Mistakes Made When Ordering Translations That Cost You Money

The Top 5 Mistakes Made When Ordering Translations That Cost You Money

2020-08-28 | Rodrigo Souza Ramos

I've been working with localization for almost a decade now, and oh boy, I’ve seen some troublesome projects in my time. I’m hoping that this list will serve to better inform those embarking on the loc text request phase of their development. I also hope that those handling loc project management will nod and tell me “oh man, I know what you mean.”

How Mobile Game Localization Can Widen Your Audience Worldwide

How Mobile Game Localization Can Widen Your Audience Worldwide

2020-07-09 | CAROLINA SILVANDERSSON

Most mobile games have the potential to reach a global market. Yours too :-) English language support will only enable your mobile game to reach a certain number of people, but mobile game localization will significantly increase your potential market. Think bigger and aim for world dominance. Game localization will help your mobile app reach a wider audience.

Fan Game Localization, Its Pros, Cons, And Hidden Costs - A Case Study

Fan Game Localization, Its Pros, Cons, And Hidden Costs - A Case Study

2020-06-24 | Buddy Sola

When thinking about taking their games global for the first time, many game developers consider asking their community to help with translations. While this can be seen as an affordable option, it still comes at a price. Akupara Games shared their experience with crowd translation: the pros and cons, hidden costs, and what to pay attention to if you decide to involve your fans in this process.

Korean Game Localization: How To Conquer One Of The Top 5 Games Markets

Korean Game Localization: How To Conquer One Of The Top 5 Games Markets

2020-05-23 | Carolina Silvandersson

Korean gamers downloaded more mobile games and spent 15% more on their games in the first quarter of this year - nearly $1.1 billion. They no longer primarily purchase games from Korean developers, which means that the door has opened to non-Korean game makers. Read more about how this change in the Korean video game market will affect your studio.

What Is Video Game Localization And Why Should I Care?

What Is Video Game Localization And Why Should I Care?

2020-05-21 | Simon Hill

In this article, we're going to explain what localization is really all about and discuss how to plan and execute it properly. We're also going to look at why you should allocate budget and resources to localization, and how to maximize your return on investment.

Dynamic Language Optimization for Facebook Game Promotion Explained in 5 Minutes

Dynamic Language Optimization for Facebook Game Promotion Explained in 5 Minutes

2020-05-19 | Andrew Kozik

Since there is no longer a gamer archetype, like several years ago, video game advertisers have to deal with a diverse audience. eMarketer reports an approximate $3 billion market for mobile in-game advertising with gamer’s age diversity from 21 to 50 and older. Video game advertisers can reach more people with their messages using Facebook ads but they need to find new creative ways for that. Check this guide to run top-notch campaigns on Facebook.

Western Localization Of Asian Games: 5 Tips

Western Localization Of Asian Games: 5 Tips

2020-05-06 | Sharon S. Milne

Localizing or adapting games is not just about translating a game from language A to language B. On a much broader scope, it’s about bridging cultures. So here are some tips to keep in mind when localizing games from the east for players and audiences in the west.

Game Localization For Russia: Go Hard Or Go Home!

Game Localization For Russia: Go Hard Or Go Home!

2020-04-21 | Carolina Silvandersson

Russian is one of the top 10 languages for video game translation. Learn how to localize your game into Russian, what are the most common localization mistakes, and how to save your title from potentially bad reviews. Validated by our Russian linguists!

How To Choose A Name For Your iOS App Or Game: 9 Tips

How To Choose A Name For Your iOS App Or Game: 9 Tips

2020-03-24 | Simon Hill

In this guide, we’re going to look at some practical considerations when you’re choosing a name for your iOS app. We’ll take a look at the limitations, the impact on search, the potential of keywords or other references, the importance of localization, and a whole lot more. Grab yourself a drink, put your feet up, and let’s explore the strange art of picking an app name.

Localization QA: How Video Game Testers Work (Q&A)

Localization QA: How Video Game Testers Work (Q&A)

2020-03-23 | NAHUEL G. APRILE

German and Italian LQA testers talk about their work, typical translation issues they see in games, and why localization testing is a must for the German audience. Bonus: tips for the game devs on how to make the LQA process smooth and sound.

Game Localization To Arabic - Why And How?

Game Localization To Arabic - Why And How?

2020-01-10 | SLAVA ZAIETS

The 5th most spoken language in the world - Arabic - is not an obvious choice for game developers and publishers. Nevertheless, Arabic is the language of the most affluent and some of the most populous emerging markets on the globe. But it has its own specifics which you'll learn about in a minute.

Make Your Mobile App Or Game A Great First-Time Experience

Make Your Mobile App Or Game A Great First-Time Experience

2019-04-10 | CAROLINA SILVANDERSSON

If you want to improve user experience, mobile app localization is an important factor. To make mobile app or game localization easier, preparing for localization during app development is a good idea. There are a few other important things to keep in mind when working on user experience. Here are 5 tips on how to improve your app’s user interface when developing an app or a game.

7 Quick ASO Actions To Improve Your Mobile App Downloads

7 Quick ASO Actions To Improve Your Mobile App Downloads

2018-12-11 | Carolina Silvandersson

In this blog you will receive 7 tips on how to improve your app’s ASO. Ranking your app in App Store or Google Play may feel like an unrealistic goal, but following these steps will help you get where you need to be. Give your app the full treatment and perfect your app store optimization. Let’s start!

Localizing Your Game Into Spanish, Which Spanish Do You Choose?

Localizing Your Game Into Spanish, Which Spanish Do You Choose?

2018-04-22 | Michael Souto

You want to localize your game into Spanish, ok no worries there. However are you aware that you need to choose whether to translate your game into Euro Spanish or Latin American Spanish? There are around 480 million native Spanish speaking people in the world spread across 22 countries. Localizing your game is the best way to reach them but then you have a choice to make: Which Spanish do you choose?