7 Video Game Localization Challenges and How to Tackle Them
Introducing a video game to localized users comes with a variety of game localization challenges. It gives plenty of downsides if not handled properly. It's worth noting that localization isn't just a mere translation. It involves adapting the game to suit the cultural, linguistic, and technical preferences of a specific target audience.?
In most cases, many fail to face the challenges as such elements go unnoticed by anyone involved in the translation process until it becomes too late to rectify them. In order to mitigate the significant fluctuations between highs and lows in the localization industry, it is advisable to comprehend the challenges behind why even the most accomplished game localization experts can occasionally commit such straightforward errors.
In this article, we'll delve into seven common video game localization challenges and provide strategies to tackle them effectively.
7 Video Game Localization Every Game Publisher Should Know
The challenges in the list below aren’t inclusive, meaning that you might have any additional challenges. Let’s take a look at the common issues every game publisher might face in the future.
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Style and Language Biases
Video games come with a variety of language styles, story arcs, and stylized characters which often represent cultural references. Failing to deliver these elements in the target language would cause many changes in user experience, resulting in biases. Video game localization can be fraught with language and style biases, which, if not managed effectively, can detract from the gaming experience
A language also carries a polite form to address certain groups of people, neglecting this form throughout the process of localization would end up in a completely different environment for the users. Gamers would typically enjoy a gaming experience where they are normally in their environment and culture – that includes the way other people would address them.
Language biases can happen when gamers experience unequal treatment from different languages within the same game. It can manifest in different forms, such as the priority language used in the game and the delay in language availability.?
Let's take the limited or inadequate translation as an example. Insufficient language support can alienate players who speak the less commonly supported language. This bias can result in these players feeling excluded from the gaming community.
Meanwhile, style biases refer to the preservation of cultural references during localization, especially when it comes to character interaction and the game's narrative. This game localization challenge often comes into play due to cultural differences and, sometimes, the risk of misinterpretation.?