Professional Video Game Translation and Localization
Dreaming of taking your video game to the international market and immersing players from all over the world? High-quality game localization is the key to success! At iTrex, we offer a full range of services for translating and localizing video games across all genres: from exciting action titles and massive RPGs to engaging strategy games and casual puzzles.
We don’t just translate text — we adapt cultural nuances, preserve your unique style and humor, ensure technical accuracy, and deliver perfect sound. Our goal is to make every player, regardless of language, feel like they’re part of your game world, as if it was made just for them.
Why do clients trust us with game localization?
The success of game translation depends on understanding its core, technical features, and cultural expectations of players. At iTrex, we’ve assembled a team that combines linguistic expertise with deep industry knowledge.
- Gamer-linguists on the team: Our translators, editors, and testers aren’t just language pros — they’re passionate gamers who understand genre specifics, slang, and the importance of maintaining the right atmosphere.
- Years of experience: We’ve been in the translation business since 2006. Over the years, we’ve successfully localized dozens of projects of varying complexity and themes, including work for well-known game companies.
- Comprehensive approach: We offer a full cycle of services — from translating texts to voice-over, subtitling, and testing — ensuring top quality at every stage.
- Technical savvy: We can handle any game file format and integrate seamlessly into your production process using modern CAT tools and translation management systems.
- Quality guarantee: Our multi-layered review system — including editing, proofreading, and final linguistic testing — guarantees flawless results.
We understand that your game is both a business and a work of art, and we approach its localization with maximum responsibility and attention to detail.
Comprehensive game localization services from iTrex
We offer a modular approach — you can order either the full localization cycle or individual stages, depending on your needs and budget:
Translating in-game text elements
This is the foundation of any localization. Includes translating game texts: dialogues, quests, item descriptions, game lore, tutorial texts, menus, in-game mail, error messages, and everything else players read. We pay special attention to preserving your original style, tone, and humor, specific to your project and genre.
Translating and adapting UI/UX
An accurately localized interface is crucial for player comfort and intuitive interaction. We translate all UI elements (buttons, menus, hints, indicators), considering text length limits, variables (like %d, %s), and maintaining consistent terminology. If needed, our specialists can help adapt UI graphics containing text.
Audio and video content localization
Immersing players further into the game world depends on quality sound and video. We offer:
- Voice-over: Selecting professional voice actors, recording in studios, syncing with video. We work with native speakers to ensure character voices sound natural.
- Neural voice-over: We can use modern AI tools like HeyGen, 7Labs, and others for voice synthesis, alongside traditional recording.
- Subtitles: Creating accurate, readable subtitles for dialogues, cutscenes, and in-game videos, with proper timing and character limits.
- In-game video translation and adaptation: Localizing text, titles, and graphics in promotional videos or cutscenes.
Graphics and image localization
Signage, in-game documents, maps, tutorial images — all require translation and careful integration. Our graphic specialists adapt these elements while preserving style and image quality.
Linguistic testing (LQA)
A critical step for games. Native testers play the localized version, checking not only translation accuracy but also proper display in the UI (text cropping, overlays), absence of errors, correct variable functioning, cultural appropriateness, and overall user experience. LQA helps catch and fix up to 99% of localization issues before release.
Who needs game localization and why?
Localization from iTrex is an investment in expanding your audience and increasing revenue. Game localization services are in demand by:
Major studios and publishers
Purpose: Maximize global reach, enter key markets (China, Japan, Korea, Europe, Latin America), maintain high brand reputation, and provide a consistent, high-quality experience for players worldwide.
Indie developers
Purpose: Attract players from different countries with limited budgets, boost sales on digital platforms (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG), participate in international festivals and competitions, and build a loyal community beyond their home region.
Mobile game publishers
Purpose: Rapidly enter highly profitable Asian markets, reduce user acquisition costs (CPI), and improve retention and monetization (ARPU) among non-English audiences. We offer mobile game localization to help achieve these goals.
Developers of “serious” and educational projects
Purpose: Adapt content for international use in training programs, corporate education, and simulations. Ensuring terminology accuracy and clarity for professionals in multiple languages.
Example project: Localization of Glambook website and mobile app
Client: Glambook — an international online platform for beauty professionals and their clients (cosmetologists, hairdressers, tattoo artists, etc.). The service includes a website and two separate mobile apps (for professionals and clients).
Industry: Beauty industry.
Services provided: Website and app localization.
Languages: Initial (2019): French, Spanish, Italian, German. Additional (since 2022): Russian, Greek, Arabic, Estonian, Polish, Dutch, Portuguese, Ukrainian, and others (total 16 languages).
Project goal: Translating and localizing interface, email templates, notifications, procedure descriptions, and other materials for various languages, considering cultural nuances of the target audience.
No matter the size of your project, quality localization opens the door to millions of new players.
Game localization process at iTrex
We’ve developed a clear, transparent process that guarantees high quality and on-time delivery:
Project analysis and preparation
Study the game, genre, target audience, and style.
Obtain source files (texts, audio, video, graphics).
Create a glossary and style guide to ensure consistency.
Discuss all nuances and requirements with the client.Translation and adaptation
Native professional translators handle the translation of texts and other elements, considering cultural specifics and technical constraints (like line length in UI). This stage may also include adapting humor, references, and culturally-specific content, including translating games into English.
Editing and proofreading
An editor reviews the translation for accuracy, style, and grammatical correctness. A proofreader checks for typos and punctuation errors in the final text.
Audio, video, and graphics localization
If needed, voice-over, subtitle creation, and graphic adaptation are performed. Whenever possible, this stage runs parallel to text translation.
Technical integration (upon request)
We can assist with integrating translated texts and adapted files back into your game resources, working with your developers or using your tools.
Linguistic testing (LQA)
Native speakers play the localized version, checking for display issues, contextual accuracy, bugs related to localization, and overall usability. A detailed report is provided to developers.
Final review and project delivery
After all revisions based on LQA feedback, a final check is performed. The project is delivered in the agreed format and timeline.
Game translation specifics: challenges and our solutions
Localizing games isn’t just about translating words — it’s a complex process of adaptation that requires considering many nuances:
Cultural adaptation
Jokes, slang, names, colors, symbols, holidays — all of these can be confusing or even offensive in another culture. Our localizers, as native speakers and cultural experts, adapt such content while preserving its meaning and emotional impact, making it acceptable and understandable for the target audience.
Text length restrictions
UI elements, tooltips, or subtitles often have strict character limits. Our translators are skilled at expressing ideas concisely and accurately within these constraints, while editors and testers ensure text isn’t cut off and displays correctly in the game.
Handling variables and placeholders
Strings like “You have %d gold” or “Player %s joined” require careful translation to maintain syntax and word order. Our specialists have experience working with such structures and understand how they behave across languages.
Consistency in terminology and style
Maintaining uniformity in character names, location titles, items, and terms (e.g., skills or magic) is critical for immersion. We use glossaries and CAT tools with translation memory to ensure full consistency.
Managing large and frequently updated texts
Modern games can contain millions of words and receive regular updates with new content. Our processes and technologies enable efficient management of such projects, quick integration of new lines, and keeping translations current.
Technologies and file formats in game localization
We use cutting-edge technologies and are ready to work with a wide range of data formats to simplify the integration of localization into your project:
CAT tools and Translation Management Systems (TMS)
Using CAT tools (like SDL Trados Studio, MemoQ, Smartcat) allows us to leverage translation memories (TM) and term bases, ensuring consistency, speeding up workflows, reducing costs on repeated text, and managing updates efficiently.
Handling various file formats
We process most common game file formats:
.json,.xml,.po/.pot,.csv,.xlsx,.strings(iOS),.rc, and plain text files in different encodings.Integration and automation
When needed, we can set up automated file exchanges via API or work with version control systems (like Git) to streamline workflows and reduce manual effort.
Additional services related to your game
Success in the international market often depends not only on localization itself but also on related services:
- Website and promotional material localization: Translating and adapting your official website, store pages (Steam, App Store, Google Play), press releases, trailers, and marketing campaigns.
- Cultural consulting: Expert assessment of your game or concept for cultural appropriateness and potential risks in target markets.
- User support localization: Translating FAQs, knowledge base articles, and support response templates.
- Legal document translation: User agreements (EULA), privacy policies, and other documents required for publishing your game in different regions.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Game Localization
How is game localization different from regular translation?
- Regular translation involves conveying the meaning of text from one language to another. Localization is a broader process that includes not only translation but also cultural adaptation (humor, realities, imagery), technical adjustments (UI, variables, file formats), and working with audio, video, and graphics. The goal of localization is to make the game feel as if it was originally developed for a specific cultural region.
How do you ensure the confidentiality of my project?
- We understand the importance of confidentiality before the official release. All team members sign NDAs, and we use secure data transfer channels. We’re also happy to sign your NDA if needed.
What types of games do you translate? Are there genre or platform restrictions?
- We translate all genres (RPG, strategy, action, quests, simulators, casual, etc.) and for any platform (PC, consoles, mobile, VR/AR). Our team is selected based on your project’s specifics, including genre knowledge.
Can you help with voice-over or subtitle creation?
- Yes, this is part of our comprehensive localization services. We organize everything — from selecting professional voice actors (native speakers) and recording to creating and integrating subtitles.
How long does full game localization take?
- Timing depends on factors like text volume, number of languages, content complexity (voice-over, graphics), and LQA needs. Small indie games can be localized in a few weeks, while large AAA projects may take several months. We always provide an individual timeline after reviewing your materials.
How does translation testing (LQA) work?
- After integrating the translated texts, native testers play the game to check for display issues, contextual accuracy, bugs related to localization, and overall usability. They report any issues in a detailed report for developers.
What file formats do you accept for game texts?
- We work with most common game file formats: .json, .xml, .po/.pot, .csv, .xlsx, .strings, .rc, and plain text files. If your format is unique, we’ll find a solution to handle it.
Ready to introduce your game to new markets?
Contact us today to discuss your project and receive a custom quote that will help your game win over players worldwide.
