Skip to content
FacebookTwitterLinkedinYoutubeInstagram
  • Join ATA
  • Renew
  • Shop ATAware
  • Contact Us
  • Log In Welcome, My Account
American Translators Association (ATA)
Find a Language Professional
  • Certification
    • Certification
      • Guide to ATA Certification
      • What is a Certified Translation?
      • How the Exam is Graded
      • Review and Appeal Process
      • Looking for more information?
    • Taking the Exam
      • About the Exam
      • How to Prepare
      • Practice Test
      • Exam Schedule
    • Already Certified?
      • Put Your Credentials To Work
      • Continuing Education Requirement
    • Register Buttons
      • Register for Exam
         
      • Order Practice Test
  • Career and Education
    • For Newcomers
      • Student Resources
      • Starting Your Career
      • The Savvy Newcomer Blog
    • For Professionals
      • Growing Your Career
      • Business Strategies
      • Next Level Blog
      • Client Outreach Kit
      • Mentoring
    • Resources
      • For Educators and Trainers
      • Tools and Technology
      • Publications
      • School Outreach
    • Event Buttons
      • Visit ATA66
      • Upcoming Webinars
  • Client Assistance
    • Client Resources
      • Why Should I Hire a Professional?
      • Translator vs. Interpreter
      • Buying Language Services
    • More Client Resources
      • Need a Certified Translation?
      • What is Machine Translation?
      • The ATA Compass Blog
    • Find a Translator Button
      • Find a Language Professional
  • Events
    • Events
      • Annual Conference
      • Free Events for ATA Members
      • Certification Exam Schedule
    • More Events
      • Virtual Workshops and Events
      • Live and On-Demand Webinars
      • Calendar of Events
    • Event Buttons
      • Visit ATA66
      • Upcoming Webinars
         
  • News
    • Industry News
    • Advocacy and Outreach
    • The ATA Chronicle
    • The ATA Podcast
    • ATA Newsbriefs
    • Press Releases
  • Member Center
    • Member Resources
      • Join ATA
      • Renew Your Membership
      • Benefits of Membership
      • Divisions & Special Interest Groups
      • Chapters, Affiliates, Partners, and Other Groups
      • Get Involved
      • Member Discounts
      • Shop ATAware
    • Already a Member?
      • Member Login
      • Connect with Members
      • Credentialed Interpreter Designation
      • Become a Voting Member
      • Submit Member News
      • Submit Your Event
      • Contact Us
    • Member Buttons
  • About Us
    • About ATA
      • Who We Are
      • Honors and Awards Program
      • Advertise with Us
      • Media Kit
    • How ATA Works
      • Board of Directors
      • Committees
      • Policies & Procedures
      • Code of Ethics
      • ATA Team
    • Contact Button
      • Contact ATA
  • Join ATA
  • Renew Your Membership
  • Contact Us
  • Log In
  • Find a Language Professional
The ATA Compass: Your guide to translation and interpreting in the global market

Video Game Localization: Q&A with Expert Marina Ilari (Part 1)

February 4, 2025 | ATA Compass | No Comments | Client Assistance
alex-haney-lfQyS-TnqEg-unsplash

You’d like gamers around the world to play your video game… but how do you attract international players who speak different languages? Welcome to the world of video game localization! Localizing a video game is about translating and adapting your game for audiences outside your home country. It has proven to be a game changer for game developers and publishers. We interviewed expert game localizer Marina Ilari to get all your questions answered. 

Continue reading to learn:

  • What is video game localization and why it’s important
  • What are the steps of the localization process
  • How to build a top-notch localization team

Marina’s Game Localization Story

Let’s start with your background in video game localization. How did you get started and where has this taken you today?

I have been involved in the localization profession for 20 years. I trained as a translator, am certified by the American Translators Association in English to Spanish translation, and hold a postgraduate degree in video game localization. I began my career as a linguist at Terra Translations, a localization company offering expert and tailored translation services. I gained experience as a translator, editor, project manager, and quality assurance manager. Seven years ago, I became CEO of the company.

My first major opportunity in video game localization came when I was selected to work on a very popular AAA game. I have a deep love for video games and creative audiovisual content, so it was a perfect match for me. At the time, however, it wasn’t an easy industry to specialize in. Video game localization is relatively new—about 30 years old—and only became firmly established in the early 2000s. We have all seen some humorous or even unfortunate translations in earlier games, where professional translators weren’t always involved, and the proper tools and processes weren’t yet in place.

Specializing in this field required a lot of trial and error for me. I learned from my own mistakes, as well as from others, constantly experimenting to see what worked. I also put effort into understanding the developer’s and publisher’s perspectives, which I believe is essential. It’s important to have a bird’s-eye view of the whole process: understanding the business behind the translation, the purpose of the content, the target audience, and any other considerations like whether the games are part of a franchise.

First Steps in Video Game Localization

How do developers get started and what are the main steps in video game localization?

Experienced video game developers and publishers typically take several steps before localizing a game. It starts with market analysis—determining which regions to target based on the game’s characteristics.

Next comes the internationalization phase. This involves preparing the content for localization by ensuring that the game’s design and coding are adaptable to the target languages and cultural contexts. Once this is completed, then the actual localization takes place—the translation of the content, followed by quality control and testing. 

A familiarization stage is also highly recommended. During this stage, it’s important to have the team, including your translators, spend time playing or observing the game. This helps them understand the context, tone, and gameplay mechanics. This preparation phase helps ensure the localization aligns with the intended player experience.

Finally, games usually go through a localization quality assurance stage (LQA) in which the game is tested in different languages. For this LQA, the team should include linguists with testing skills.

These steps are complex and essential to producing a polished, immersive experience for players in each market.

It’s also important to note that gaming localization involves more than translating in-game content. Developers and publishers must also localize other materials, including technical manuals, legal agreements, and marketing assets. A significant portion of the game localization process focuses on preparing content to promote the game internationally.

Who’s Who On a Localization Team

How do you build a localization team? Who should be involved at various stages of the localization process?

It’s very important to involve a range of language and localization experts to ensure the final product is high quality and meets the players’ expectations. 

Your team should start with localization project managers. They will play an essential role because their understanding of the process and attention to detail during the preparation phase will lay the foundation for a smooth localization process. They should be well-versed in the specifics of game localization, handling tasks such as file preparation, segmentation, QA settings, and managing placeholders, variables, and character limits. They should also work with the game developer to ensure that translators have enough context to produce accurate and immersive translations. 

Next, your team should include translators specialized in the game’s genre for the actual translation work. They should understand the specific terminology, tone, and style required for the genre—for example, whether it’s fantasy, sci-fi, action, etc. Their expertise in the genre enables them to produce translations that fit the game’s world and appeal to fans familiar with similar games.

The more preparation and collaboration among all these experts, the better the final product will be!

Key Players: Finding the Right Translators

What are the most important skills translators need to deliver top-quality translations in video game localization?

Several skills are essential for translators to succeed in video game localization. First, attention to detail. Video games are complex, with layered narratives, character dialogues, and technical terms that require accuracy. Even minor errors can break the immersion for players, so translators must be meticulous, ensuring every line and term is correctly translated and consistently applied.

Creativity is another key skill, as game localization often involves adapting dialogue, humor, and cultural references to make them feel natural in the target language. Backgrounds in creative writing, literary translation, or subtitling can be especially valuable, as these translators have experience getting beyond literal translations to capture tone and intent, ensuring the story and characters resonate with players.

Communication skills are also essential. Localization teams work closely with project managers and developers, and it’s common for translators to need clarification on context or gameplay elements. A good translator knows when to ask questions and request additional information. 

Strong research skills are also necessary, as translators may need to look up terminology or gameplay mechanics to understand the context better and ensure their work is accurate.

Finally, understanding the video gaming world is a huge advantage—although translators don’t necessarily have to be active gamers. Experience with games, especially the genre they are localizing, allows them to understand the mechanics, pacing, and player expectations. This insight helps them create a more immersive and engaging experience for players, aligning the localization with the gaming culture and making it feel natural for players in their native language.

Finding Professional Localizers

Now that we’ve discussed the video game localization process and who makes up a localization team, maybe you’re ready to start your search for localizers. You can search the ATA Language Services Directory using the keywords “video game” and “localization” to find professional localizers for your game localization project.

Stay tuned for more in part 2 of our interview with video game localization expert Marina Ilari!

By Meghan McCallum


Meghan McCallumAbout the Author

Meghan McCallum is an ATA-certified French to English translator and writer specializing in corporate communications, marketing, and international development. She is also an active volunteer for the American Translators Association. The American Translators Association represents almost 9,000 translators and interpreters in more than 100 countries. To hire a translation or interpreting professional, please visit www.atanet.org/directory.

Share this

Posts navigation

← Why Translators & Interpreters with Disabilities Can Make a Difference
Video Game Localization: Q&A with Expert Marina Ilari (Part 2) →

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply





I accept the Privacy Policy

Language Services Directory

Find the translator or interpreter that meets your needs. Customize your search by language, specialties, location, credentials, and more.
Start Your Search

Subscribe to The ATA Compass



Connect with The ATA Compass

Contact Us

Recent Posts

The High Stakes of Legal Interpretation: Why You Need a Certified Court Interpreter in Colorado
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act and Language Access: Who, What, How
Video Game Localization: Q&A with Expert Marina Ilari (Part 2)
Video Game Localization: Q&A with Expert Marina Ilari (Part 1)
Why Translators & Interpreters with Disabilities Can Make a Difference
Want Your Children’s Book Translated into Another Language? Answer These 7 Questions First!
Guide to Buying Translation Services, Part IV: Terms to Know
Guide to Buying Translation Services, Part III: ATA Certification and Legal Considerations
What is Transcription and Why Does it Matter?
VRI vs VSI Interpreting: A Guide for Language Service Users
The ATA Compass

The ATA Compass

Want to reach more customers, grow your business, and improve your bottom line? The ATA Compass publishes articles and provides resources to show you how language professionals can help you…

Read More
Find a Translator or Interpreter Near You

Find a Translator or Interpreter Near You

Searching for a Nearby Translator or Interpreter? Whether you require accurate document translations, real-time interpreting for an event, or specialized industry expertise, finding the right professional near you has never…

Read More
Why You Should Use a Certified Translator or Interpreter

Why You Should Use a Certified Translator or Interpreter

Choosing a Certified Professional is the Smart Choice A certified translator or interpreter ensures effective, accurate, and culturally sensitive communication that truly bridges the gap between languages and cultures. Accuracy…

Read More
Buying Language Services

Buying Language Services

Guide to Buying Translation Services Translators help power the global economy, working with businesses, governments, non-profits and individuals. Translators work with the written word. The ATA Guide to Buying Translation…

Read More
Exploring Translation and Interpreting Services

Exploring Translation and Interpreting Services

Why Are Language Services Essential in an Internationalized World? In a world where communication knows no bounds, effective language services are paramount. ATA helps you find professional translators and interpreters…

Read More
Client Assistance

Client Assistance

Can I afford to hire a professional? You can’t afford NOT to. Poor translation and interpreting services can be disastrous for your business. See what’s at stake. Learn More What’s…

Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • Next »
Language Services Directory
ata_logo_footer

American Translators Association
211 N. Union Street, Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22314

Phone +1-703-683-6100
Fax +1-703-778-7222

  • Certification
  • Career and Education
  • Client Assistance
  • Events
  • News
  • Member Center
  • About Us
  • Member Login
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Submit Feedback

© 2025 - American Translators Association

Find a Language Professional
Scroll To Top
By clicking accept or closing this message and continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies.I AcceptPrivacy Policy