Gaming has today become one of the most popular forms of entertainment, with people of all ages and backgrounds playing all kinds of games. The industry is only expected to explode even further globally in the coming years – and in multiple languages to boot.
With such a global audience, it is important for game developers to make sure that their games can be enjoyed by as many people as possible. This means ensuring that the games are available in as many languages as possible. By working with a translation service provider, developers can make sure that their games are accessible to players all over the world.
When it comes to online gaming, there are two main ways that translation or localisation can be used. The first is to simply offer the game in multiple languages from the start. This means that players can choose the language they want to play in and will not have to worry about any language barriers. The second way is to offer language support as an in-game option. This means that players can change the language of the game on the fly, without having to restart the game or anything like that.
Offering language support is a great way to show that you are committed to making your game accessible to as many people as possible. It also shows that you are willing to invest in the game and its community. Translation services can help you make sure that your game is available in as many languages as possible so that everyone can enjoy it.
Let’s look at some specific ways that the gaming industry can benefit from working with a translation service.
1. Wider International Appeal
The most obvious benefit of working with a translation service is that it will allow your company to appeal to a wider international audience.
There are over two billion gamers around the world, and they speak a variety of different languages. While some gamers may be able to understand your game if it’s in English, there are many others who would be more likely to play your game if it was available in their native language. The more languages your game is available in, the more potential customers you’ll be able to reach.
You may ask: can’t I just use Google Translate for this? While Google Translate can be helpful for gist, it’s not a substitute for a professional translation. A professional translation/localisation service will be able to provide you with accurate, culturally appropriate translations that will help your game to be more successful in other markets. Using nuance and slang in another language is difficult to do, even if you’re a native speaker, so it’s important to work with a professional if you want to ensure that your game is localised correctly.
2. Increased Revenue
Why settle for only reaching a small portion of the gaming market when you could be reaching a much larger one?
The more people who are playing your game, the more money you’ll be able to generate through in-game purchases, advertising, and other revenue streams. If you’re not localised, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to increase your company’s bottom line.
If you’re not sure whether localisation is worth the investment, consider that the global games market is expected to be worth over $200 billion by 2023. That’s a lot of potential revenue that you could be tapping into by working with a translation service.
3. Better Rankings Online and In-App Store
If you want your game to be successful, it’s important to make sure that it’s visible to potential customers. In the online and mobile gaming world, this means making sure that your game ranks highly in search engines and in-app stores.
One of the factors that search engines and in-app stores use to determine rankings is the presence of keywords in your game’s title and description. If you’re not using the right keywords, your game may not appear as often in search results, and it may be more difficult for potential customers to find. By working with a translation service provider, you can make sure that your game is using the right keywords for other markets, which can help to improve your game’s visibility and make it more likely to be successful.
4. It's a Way to Stand Out from Your Competitors
The gaming industry is becoming increasingly competitive, and it’s more important than ever to find ways to stand out from your competitors. One way to do this is by localising your game into different languages.
If you’re the only company in your space that’s trying to reach gamers in other countries, you’re likely to see a boost to your sales and market share. Localisation shows that you’re committed to serving a global audience, and it can help you to attract new customers who may not have considered your game before.
And it’s not just about localising the game itself. It really doesn’t matter how good your game is if nobody knows about it. You need to be proactive in promoting your multilingual game to different markets, in their target language and appealing to their culture.
Conclusion
When it comes to online gaming, you’ll make the most money from your product if it’s translated for a broader audience and marketed to them in their language as well. A professional translation agency can help you break into new markets, gain global reach and boost sales. What have you got to lose? Why not give it a go?