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Article published In: Game Localisation
Edited by Xiaochun Zhang and Samuel Strong
[The Journal of Internationalization and Localization 4:2] 2017
► pp. 74–99

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Research in game localisation

An overview

 | Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Published online: 26 January 2018
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/jial.00003.man
Abstract
Game localisation is an emerging field in Translation Studies that initially began attracting attention in the late 1990s, when the first studies analysing this new translation phenomenon were published by professionals working in the field. In the last decade, research on game localisation has gained impetus. Particularly, in recent years, the number of books, journal articles, book chapters, undergraduate, masters and doctoral dissertations aiming to shed light on this relatively young area of study have increased considerably. This paper examines existing research on game localisation, focusing on published papers (articles and book chapters) and books. It presents a diachronic view of game localisation research, describing the main topics and methods used, as well as the issue of research materials. Finally, it explores potential future research avenues and calls for reception studies, which are necessary to consolidate game localisation as an established research domain within Translation Studies.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Early days: 1999 to 2005
  • 3.2006: ‘Year one’ in game localisation research within Translation Studies?
  • 4.Development phase: 2007–2011
  • 5.Consolidation phase: 2013 to date
  • 6.Research topics and methods
  • 7.Research materials
  • 8.Future research avenues
  • 9.Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
References (142)
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Cited by (29)

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Du, Kexin & Yingmei Liu
2025. Game Localization and Translation Studies: A Critical Review and Implications for Future Education. In Multilingual Education Yearbook 2025 [Multilingual Education Yearbook, ], ► pp. 273 ff. DOI logo
Deckert, Mikołaj, Miguel Ángel Bernal-Merino & Krzysztof Hejduk
2024. Towards Game Translation User Research, DOI logo
Liu, Xinyuan, Weiqing Xiao & Kanglong Liu
2024. Analyzing research trends in localization. Digital Translation 11:2 ► pp. 91 ff. DOI logo
Moreno García, Luis Damián
2024. Recontextualizing disassembled texts. Babel. Revue internationale de la traduction / International Journal of Translation / Revista Internacional de Traducción 70:1-2 ► pp. 64 ff. DOI logo
Pięta, Hanna, Susana Valdez, Rita Menezes & Stavroula Sokoli
2024. Indirect (pivot) audiovisual translation: a burning issue for research and training. Perspectives 32:5 ► pp. 763 ff. DOI logo
Sayaheen, Bilal
2024. Mobile video game localization: a case study of Apple Store sub-category ‘play in Arabic’. Cogent Arts & Humanities 11:1 DOI logo
Sayaheen, Bilal
2024. Crossing borders: localization and paratext in Arabic mobile video games. Cogent Arts & Humanities 11:1 DOI logo
Stafford, Jemma Louise
2024. Janky or non-fluent?. Digital Translation 11:2 ► pp. 140 ff. DOI logo
Techawongstien, Koraya
2024. Being on the inside: a research methodology for data collection within the inner circle of the domain of video game translation/localization in Thailand. Qualitative Research Journal 24:2 ► pp. 119 ff. DOI logo
Zoraqi, Amir Arsalan & Movahede Sadat Mousavi
2024. The cultural localization of video games in Iran. Translation Spaces 13:2 ► pp. 200 ff. DOI logo
Ashok, Pratiksha
2023. Game localization: A comparative case study of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG Mobile) in India and China. Journal of Gaming & Virtual Worlds 15:2 ► pp. 129 ff. DOI logo
Rennick, Stephanie, Melanie Clinton, Elena Ioannidou, Liana Oh, Charlotte Clooney, E. T., Edward Healy & Seán G. Roberts
2023. Gender bias in video game dialogue. Royal Society Open Science 10:5 DOI logo
Afzali, Katayoon & Mahboobeh Zahiri
2022. A netnographic exploration of Iranian videogame players translation needs: the case of in-game texts. The Translator 28:1 ► pp. 74 ff. DOI logo
O’Hagan, Minako
2022. Indirect translation in game localization as a method of global circulation of digital artefacts. Target. International Journal of Translation Studies 34:3 ► pp. 441 ff. DOI logo
Zorrakin-Goikoetxea, Itziar
2022. Transcreación y adaptación cultural en videojuegos: proceso, producto y recepción. TRANS: Revista de Traductología 26:1 ► pp. 213 ff. DOI logo
Zorrakin-Goikoetxea, Itziar
2024. Survey on Localization From the Development Perspective. Games and Culture 19:3 ► pp. 391 ff. DOI logo
Zorrakin-Goikoetxea, Itziar
2025. Explorative study on how indie developers approach game localization. Digital Translation 12:1 ► pp. 62 ff. DOI logo
KARAGÖZ, Selahattin
2021. Indie game localization communities as spheres of interaction. RumeliDE Dil ve Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi :Ö9 ► pp. 492 ff. DOI logo
Koscelníková, Mária
2021. The localization of video games into less widely spoken languages that share a common history. The Journal of Internationalization and Localization 8:1 ► pp. 1 ff. DOI logo
Mejías-Climent, Laura
2021. Game Localization: Stages and Particularities. In Enhancing Video Game Localization Through Dubbing, ► pp. 79 ff. DOI logo
Mejías-Climent, Laura
2021. The History of Localization and Dubbing in Video Games. In Enhancing Video Game Localization Through Dubbing, ► pp. 43 ff. DOI logo
Mejías-Climent, Laura
2021. Conclusion. In Enhancing Video Game Localization Through Dubbing, ► pp. 223 ff. DOI logo
Mejías-Climent, Laura
2021. Dubbing Analysis Through Game Situations: Four Case Studies. In Enhancing Video Game Localization Through Dubbing, ► pp. 163 ff. DOI logo
Toftedahl, Marcus & Cristian A. Rusu
2021. Localization Tools in General Purpose Game Engines: A Systematic Mapping Study. International Journal of Computer Games Technology 2021 ► pp. 1 ff. DOI logo
Davies, Hugh & Zhuying Li
2020. Travel Frog: Traversing cultural borders with mobile games. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies 26:5-6 ► pp. 1194 ff. DOI logo
Khoshsaligheh, Masood & Saeed Ameri
2020. Video game localisation in Iran: a survey of users’ profile, gaming habits and preferences. The Translator 26:2 ► pp. 190 ff. DOI logo
Li, Longxing, Chu-Ren Huang & Vincent Xian Wang
2020. Lexical Competition and Change: A Corpus-Assisted Investigation of Gambling and Gaming in the Past Centuries. Sage Open 10:3 DOI logo
Wu, Zhiwei & Zhuojia Chen
2020. Localizing Chinese games for Southeast Asian markets. The Journal of Internationalization and Localization 7:1-2 ► pp. 49 ff. DOI logo
[no author supplied]
2021. Localization of conceptual information in intercultural dialogue. Teaching languages at higher institutions :38 DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 13 november 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

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