What is localisation?
- Mar 18, 2025
- 2 min read
Localisation aims to offer gamers the same experience that native players have, but it sometimes comes at a cost. I want you, developers, to understand what that is, so I’ll share the actual localisation process on this page.
The following in-game text is from Boneraiser Minions, a game I got involved with as a fan translator (You can find the translation in Workshop).
(Context: The player is a wretched monster who finds a girl lost in the forest. He has two options: devour her or let her go. When choosing the latter, the text above will appear)
The last sentence is so challenging to translate that it requires localisation. Do you know why? That’s right! It's because it's a meme referencing Elden Ring. What matters is that this meme hasn't spread through Japan at all. The original Japanese text "貴方は巫女無しです" (You are maidenless) doesn't sound like it's making fun of you for not having a girlfriend.
There are two options for dealing with it: remove the meme and translate only its intention or adopt another meme with roughly the same meaning that is well-known in Japan. The former offers gamers a laugh with a joke like, “You've never had a girlfriend in your life,” but it can't provide the experience of being surprised by unexpectedly finding a meme. The latter amazes gamers with a meme suddenly appearing, but it can't provide the experience of enjoying the intention of the original text. Which option is better? You developers have the right to choose it.
So, localisation is the act of sacrifice like playing Phyrexian Dreadnought. (This sentence could also be adapted for Japanese players in this way: “you can't make localisation without breaking eggs” or “localisation is inevitable when you summon a Blue-Eyes White Dragon”)
Game translators should discuss localisation options like this with developers and understand the experience they want to offer gamers. That is why I would like to communicate with developers directly.
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