Digital Translation - Volume 12, Issue 1, 2025

Abstract

This study examines the evolution of Arabic video game localization focusing on Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed 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.

Abstract

Through an examination of the three dimensions of eco-translatology, this study aims to identify the localization characteristics and differences in Hearthstone between the simplified and traditional Chinese locales, with the intention that the results can serve as guidelines for future localization projects for the two markets. In the linguistic dimension, faithful translation is the most frequently adopted strategy, although traditional Chinese teams sometimes rewrite text to enhance the entertainment level. In the cultural dimension, straightforward and simple wording in the source text again results in the most frequent use of faithful translation, and the traditional Chinese team still employs rewriting to create humor. Finally, to fulfill the expected effect in the communicative dimension, five transcreation strategies are identified in both localized versions, namely, re-creation of wordplay, contextualization by rewriting, referring to the Warcraft universe elements or regional expressions, imitation of the Chinese literary form, and use of political satire. The current findings can inform future localization teams, as well as future researchers who aim to investigate the strategies used in the two Chinese locales.

Abstract

Through the analysis of 26 semi-structured interviews with small indie developers attending the Bilbao International Games Conference (BIG Conference) 2024, this paper explores the languages in which games are developed, the languages into which they are localized, and whether the scriptwriters and translators are native speakers of those languages. It also collects indie developers’ insights on the process of video game localization. Thus, it offers a rarely studied perspective on the localization of interactive entertainment software. The results show that indie developers rely on their own knowledge of English as a second language to spread the game, create a community of followers, and find a publisher. Target languages are chosen based on the languages they speak and information gathered mainly through Steam’s wishlists. Localization is limited to text translation without any cultural adaptation.

This article reviews Online Collaborative Translation in China and Beyond9781032381350

This article reviews Digital Research Methods for Translation Studies9780367539900

This article reviews The Social Impact of Automating Translation: An Ethics of Care Perspective on Machine Translation9781032736990