Thinking about localizing your video game so you can reach a wider audience but are overwhelmed by the complexities of it all? We know video game localization can be daunting, and it makes sense you need some guidance on how to navigate this process.

This is why we’ve put together this helpful, simplified guide to share with you the game localization best practices followed by industry leaders. 

If you’re curious to learn how to navigate game localization challenges, this guide is for you. Keep reading and find out how to get it right the first time.

Understanding What Game Localization Is About

First off, what is game localization and what does it involve?

Game localization refers to the process of adapting video and mobile games to fit the linguistic, cultural, and technical requirements of a specific target market. 

Localization takes a holistic approach and considers each element that affects the gamers’ experience, from textual content and cultural references to visuals and voiceovers.

Game localization aims to make the video game accessible for foreign-speaking audiences to ensure players from around the world can fully enjoy the game, regardless of their language or cultural background.

This is why localization pays attention to not only the linguistic elements but also the cultural, visual, and legal aspects of the game.

5 Best Practices for a Successful Game Localization

Here are five game localization best practices you should consider to set yourself up for success when adapting your game.

1. Implement localization early on

One of the video game localization best practices is implementing localization during the development stage. This means preparing your game to be localization-friendly—a process called internationalization. 

When you implement internationalization tactics in the early stages, you create a truly international game that can easily be adapted to meet the needs of different markets. 

2. Prepare for the localization process

Before jumping into the game localization process, you need to prepare a style guide and glossary for your game.

These should outline special terms, names, storylines, characters, and any essential information about your game. Plus, the style guide should also explain your brand’s tone of voice and adaptation guidelines. 

Sharing these materials with your localization team will make the next steps much smoother. This is because translators would gain a better idea of your game’s essence and know how to adapt it effectively without the need to go back and forth to ask questions.

3. Take advantage of localization tools

Another key game localization practice is integrating the right tools into your localization workflow, such as CAT (computer-assisted translation) tools and translation memory (TM) software.

CAT tools automate content extraction and formatting, which speeds up the process and helps translators focus on the creative work. What’s more, TM tools allow you to reuse previously translated content for repetitive text segments, which saves time and improves translation consistency. 

4. Don’t overlook QA testing

To make sure your game localization efforts pay off, you can’t ignore quality assurance (QA) testing.

Before launching your localized game, you should take the time to test and improve the final product. Your game localization partner can help you perform testing to verify that everything is working properly and as intended. 

Also, remember that localization is an ongoing process, not a one-time thing. So, test your game frequently to keep optimizing it for maximum performance.

5. Work with in-country experts

The last game localization best practice you should consider is working with professionals who know the ins and outs of video game localization. 

But most importantly, opt for language service providers who specialize in video game localization and have hands-on experience in your specific target market.

Conclusion

Localizing your video game is not an easy task, but it is indeed worth the investment. By following the game localization best practices we’ve covered today, you can minimize errors, simplify the process, and increase your return on investment. 

If you want to learn more about game localization benefits, click here. 

Need help launching your video game in multiple languages? We can help! Gripon Global is a leading game localization service provider, helping game developers expand their reach in over 120 languages.