3 Reasons Why Bad Video Game Translations
Can Alienate Your Audience

Studies have shown that consumers of video games overwhelmingly prefer to play games in their native language. For this reason, developers often use gaming translations to translate their games into the languages of target audiences. It is imperative that developers employ professional video game translation companies for translation services. Not doing so could have serious ramifications. Bad video game translations could lead to a reduction in sales, loss of reputation, and other onerous consequences. The following paragraphs further explain the possible outcomes of poor video game translation, and why it is important to use the services of a professional game translation company.

Video game fans can be incredibly loyal. Many people buy games from a developer simply because they love their games and know that they will receive a good product. Gamers are usually forgiving as well. Sometimes mistakes are made, and as long as those mistakes are corrected in a timely matter, most gamers will forgive the developer. But one thing that gamers do not tolerate is sloppiness. Video game fans can easily see when the developer skimps on an aspect of a game. This is especially true when it comes to video game localization and translation. If there are glaring errors and inconsistencies with a game’s translation, the consumers will notice immediately. 

If the errors are numerous, then the fans will voice their displeasure, vocally. Internet forums will be alight with complaints and accusations that the developer did a poor job with the translations and game localization. This can seriously damage the reputation of a developer. Most developers will not be able to recover from such a loss of face. Famous instances of bad video game translations are forever recorded on the internet, and the developers who made those mistakes are forever tarnished.

As noted above, bad video game translations can lead to a severe loss of reputation for the developer. This reputational loss can also lead to financial loss. As people become aware that a developer did not take the time and effort to properly translate and localize their game, they will be less inclined to spend their hard-earned money on the developer’s games. If enough people decide to punish the developer for their sloppiness, sales can take a serious hit and the developer could end up in dire financial straits. The key to avoiding this problem is to utilize the services of a professional video game localization company, where accuracy and localization QA are guaranteed. Using professional translation and localization services shifts the liability away from the developer and onto the video game translation company instead.

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