A Comprehensive Guide to Localizing Live-Op Games for a Global Audience

With your game now live and operating on a stable schedule, you may be considering expansion into new markets. One effective way to increase accessibility is through localization. When preparing for your first localization project, several factors come into play. Identifying suitable target markets is crucial, taking into account genre performance and test results. Establishing a budget is also vital to control localization costs. Once markets and budget are determined, prepare all necessary elements for localization, including text, images, UI, video, and audio. Depending on your budget and technical limitations, decide on the extent of localization or explore alternatives like subtitles. Compiling a comprehensive localization kit with background information, guidelines, and technical details enables translators to work independently and efficiently. A localization project manager plays a key role in overseeing the process, managing files, sourcing translation resources, and ensuring quality control. If budget constraints prevent hiring a dedicated project manager, another team member can take on this role, albeit with a steeper learning curve. Outsourcing localization to an external company may be necessary due to the volume of work, but having in-house translators for major markets ensures consistency and high-quality localization. As your game expands into new markets, separate community management from translation roles and maintain a glossary of localized terms to avoid confusion. Regularly review and update localized content, including pricing and currency, to ensure consistency across regions. Integrating localization into your production roadmap and allowing sufficient time for translation work will help you deliver quality localized content to your growing audience. Considering localization from the outset, rather than as an afterthought, facilitates smoother implementation and higher-quality results.