What is it about?
We have asked 26 small video game developers in which language they develop their games, into which languages they translate them, and whether the scriptwriters and translators are native speakers of those languages. We have also asked what they think about video game translation, which has not often been done. The results show that small developers rely on their own knowledge of English as a second language. Target languages are chosen based on the languages they speak and information gathered mainly through Steam’s wishlists.
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Why is it important?
It is important because video game companies earn more money thanks to the translated versions than to the original version. By understanding the strategies and the needs of the developers we can make recommendations, which will benefit both the companies and the players.
Perspectives
This study will open the door to the analysis of video game translations, which may be followed by the analysis of player preferences. Understanding all three points of view (developers, product and players) will help to improve translations in the future.
Itziar Zorrakin-Goikoetxea
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Explorative study on how indie developers approach game localization, Digital Translation, July 2025, John Benjamins,
DOI: 10.1075/dt.25006.zor.
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