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Volume 12, Issue 1
  • ISSN 2949-6861
  • E-ISSN: 2949-6845
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Abstract

Abstract

This study examines the evolution of Arabic video game localization focusing on Ubisoft’s series from 2007 to 2023. It also provides a macro-historical perspective on Arabic video game localization and a micro-historical analysis of one of the most prominent video game franchises. By identifying Ubisoft’s strategic shifts — from no localization efforts to full Arabic localization — this research highlights the influence of market demand, regional support, and technological advancements on Arabic video game localization practices over time. Drawing on data from both game paratextual elements and in-game assets, this study identifies the milestones, challenges, and solutions in Ubisoft’s approach to the Arab gaming community. It performs quantitative and qualitative analyses to reveal how localization strategies have been progressively adapted, addressing issues such as right-to-left language support, cultural adaptation, and the increasing inclusion of Arabic voiceovers and in-game graphics. This research strengthens Arabic translation literature by expanding the historical account of video game localization beyond the dominant Western and Japanese contexts. It also serves as a valuable resource for developers, publishers, and scholars interested in reaching Arabic-speaking audiences and exploring localization dynamics in non-Western markets.

© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Available under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license.
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2025-04-22
2025-12-09

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/content/journals/10.1075/dt.24013.alb
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Evolution of Arabic video game localization
Digital Translation 12, 11 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1075/dt.24013.alb
/content/journals/10.1075/dt.24013.alb
/content/journals/10.1075/dt.24013.alb
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): Arabic Gaming Community; Arabic video game localization; Assassin’s Creed localization; localization history; localization strategies in non-Western markets; MENA gaming market

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