About video game localization

[u/Some-Pumpkin-3817]

So I'm still a student studying translation and I'm thinking of getting into games translation or rather localization

I need to ask is it a good path to set for myself?

I'm already working on 2 games as a hobby but in the future I would like to work in this field would you recommend it?

[u/Floofleboop]

I'm quite literally the only "translator" left in my company. We're down from a staff of 50 to 1. I basically just proofread AI translations now and am looking around for jobs in other fields. I wouldn't stake my future on a position in localization, unless you wanted to do something more like project management.

[u/Some-Pumpkin-3817 → u/Floofleboop]

I guess I will get into administrative translation then

I hope you don't get laid off as well

When you said you proofread AI does this mean your company decided to use AI translation over actual translation?

[u/Norka_III → u/Some-Pumpkin-3817]

Admin translation is even more threatened by AI as there is not a lot of nuance to it. At least with cultural products, they might need a human proof reader to ensure the jokes and pop culture references are relevant and not insensitive, but fewer and fewer are ok paying for that.

[u/Floofleboop → u/Some-Pumpkin-3817]

Yes, and it seems like that is what most companies are doing.

[u/serioussham]

No, both industries are in crisis. Feel free to search this sub, I've answered similar questions a number of times, as have colleagues

[u/Some-Pumpkin-3817 → u/serioussham]

I guess I should just do them as a hobby then

[u/Zigguraf]

What is your language pair?

[u/Some-Pumpkin-3817 → u/Zigguraf]

I translate from English to Arabic and vice-versa

[u/Zigguraf → u/Some-Pumpkin-3817]

Hmmm, then your market could be a little bit less oversaturated like EN-ES or EN-LATAM ES. I reccomend following Seif Chaib on LinkedIn as he posts some interesting stuff about that language pair and video game localization or check his blog: https://seifchaib.com/blog/tag/thoughts/.

But as serioussham has said, the industry is in crisis thanks to AI, low rates, clients switching to Post-editing only (if even), clients that fail your translation test depending on the rewiewers mood and refuse to give feedback, non-paying clients, late paying clients... etc, etc. You can still do it, but in my opinion, as a side gig.

For example, I have worked on a GOTY winner and have several years of experience, I am forced to have another job + videogame loc to make ends meet, and sometimes I am working to lose money because of taxes, CAT tools licenses, webpage and so on (if freelancer).

Feel free to text me though if you need more details or discuss about it.

[u/dark_mokaccino]

It's a bit difficult to find a job in this area, so you'll need to be super patient and have another source of income before finding some stability. Also, it's advised to have one more specialisation just in case. Apart from that, if it's really what you want, do it, but do it really well. We have to work with several kinds of text even in the same project, and we have to research a lot. One day you'll be localising a truck simulator, the next day you'll have to face a medieval fantasy rpg, and then a privacy policy (just examples), so be prepared to adapt to the needs of every task.

[u/Suppositorizz]

A good path for yourself is one that doesn't involve language-related fields.

[u/Some-Pumpkin-3817 → u/Suppositorizz]

Bro ever since I was a child I loved translation with all my soul

It's so sad seeing the world rn

[u/19kitty_kat93 → u/Some-Pumpkin-3817]

Don't be discouraged! The field is just changing and we don't know what will come of it yet. If you're passionate about it, go for it, but stay proactive and branch out. Maybe pick one of the safer, more "boring" translation fields and still do game localization on the side if it brings you joy. ❤️