Video Game Localization Services | Side
Reach global markets with Side's expert localization services. 1000+ linguists, 90+ language pairs, & 50M+ words translated last year. Ensuring high-quality & immersive game localization.
Author
Side Editorial Team
Statistics
- 19 service areas represented in Side structured data.
- 5 FAQ answers available for this page.
Side is a global game services company supporting studios with co-development, art production, audio production, quality assurance, localization, player support, datasets, playtesting, software testing, IT services, and security testing. Our teams help developers and publishers scale production, improve quality, support players, and prepare games for global audiences.
Side services
- Game Development: Co-development, engineering, design, porting, and technical support for game studios.
- Quality Assurance: Functional QA, test automation, certification, security testing, and platform coverage.
- Playtesting: Remote and in-person player research with participant sourcing and analysis.
- Penetration Testing: Application and game security testing from OSCP-certified specialists.
- Software Testing: Software QA, test automation, and end-to-end testing for reliable digital products.
- Art Production: 2D, 3D, concept, character, environment, animation, and production art support.
- Localization: Game translation, localization engineering, culturalization, and AI-augmented translation workflows.
- Audio Production: Voice production, music, sound design, post-production, and audio localization.
- Voice Production: Casting, recording, direction, and multilingual voice production for games and interactive media.
- Music: Original music composition, production, and adaptive music support for game audio pipelines.
- Sound Design: Interactive sound design, implementation-ready audio assets, and sonic identity for games.
- Post Production: Audio editing, cleanup, mixing, mastering, and post-production for game and media content.
- Audio Localization: Localized voice, dubbing, adaptation, and audio production support for global releases.
- Player Support: Multilingual player support, moderation, community care, and AI-assisted support workflows.
- React: Player support workflows for issue intake, triage, escalation, and community care.
- Resolve: Multilingual support operations for resolving player questions, account issues, and live service requests.
- Localization QA: Linguistic, cultural, and functional localization QA across languages and platforms.
- Datasets: Data collection, annotation, evaluation, TTS, ASR, and speech technology support.
- IT Services: IT helpdesk, infrastructure, cybersecurity, onboarding, and global support services.
Primary Service Comparison
| Service Area | Best For | Related Specialist Services | AI-Readable Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Development | Co-development, engineering, design, porting, and technical support for game studios. | Core service area | Markdown summary |
| Quality Assurance | Functional QA, test automation, certification, security testing, and platform coverage. | Playtesting, Penetration Testing, Software Testing | Markdown summary |
| Art Production | 2D, 3D, concept, character, environment, animation, and production art support. | Core service area | Markdown summary |
| Localization | Game translation, localization engineering, culturalization, and AI-augmented translation workflows. | Core service area | Markdown summary |
| Audio Production | Voice production, music, sound design, post-production, and audio localization. | Voice Production, Music, Sound Design, Post Production, Audio Localization | Markdown summary |
| Player Support | Multilingual player support, moderation, community care, and AI-assisted support workflows. | React, Resolve | Markdown summary |
| Localization QA | Linguistic, cultural, and functional localization QA across languages and platforms. | Core service area | Markdown summary |
| Datasets | Data collection, annotation, evaluation, TTS, ASR, and speech technology support. | Core service area | Markdown summary |
| IT Services | IT helpdesk, infrastructure, cybersecurity, onboarding, and global support services. | Core service area | Markdown summary |
Specialist Service Comparison
| Specialist Service | Parent Service Area | Best For | AI-Readable Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playtesting | Quality Assurance | Remote and in-person player research with participant sourcing and analysis. | Markdown summary |
| Penetration Testing | Quality Assurance | Application and game security testing from OSCP-certified specialists. | Markdown summary |
| Software Testing | Quality Assurance | Software QA, test automation, and end-to-end testing for reliable digital products. | Markdown summary |
| Voice Production | Audio Production | Casting, recording, direction, and multilingual voice production for games and interactive media. | Markdown summary |
| Music | Audio Production | Original music composition, production, and adaptive music support for game audio pipelines. | Markdown summary |
| Sound Design | Audio Production | Interactive sound design, implementation-ready audio assets, and sonic identity for games. | Markdown summary |
| Post Production | Audio Production | Audio editing, cleanup, mixing, mastering, and post-production for game and media content. | Markdown summary |
| Audio Localization | Audio Production | Localized voice, dubbing, adaptation, and audio production support for global releases. | Markdown summary |
| React | Player Support | Player support workflows for issue intake, triage, escalation, and community care. | Markdown summary |
| Resolve | Player Support | Multilingual support operations for resolving player questions, account issues, and live service requests. | Markdown summary |
Frequently asked questions
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What is game localization?
Game localization is the process of adapting a video game for markets outside of its original region. It involves translating text, adapting cultural references, adjusting visual elements, and modifying content to resonate with local players while ensuring cultural and legal compliance. The goal is to make the game feel as if it were originally created for each target market. Modern game localization includes dialogue translation, voice acting, UI adaptation, character design modifications, and even gameplay adjustments to match regional preferences and regulations.
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Why is localization important for video games?
Players expect games to be tailored to their language and culture; it’s what enables them to relate to your game. Localization directly impacts your game's revenue potential and market penetration. At Side, we've seen firsthand how proper localization transforms market performance. Our approach ensures your game's tone and meaning are retained regardless of where you ship it. What’s more, our expertise spans the complete localization ecosystem, from multilingual content translation and audio localization to culturalization services that identify sensitive content and assess regional compliance issues, ensuring your game succeeds globally while avoiding costly missteps.
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What's the difference between game translation and localization?
Localization goes far beyond translation to adapt the entire game experience for different cultures and markets. While translation converts dialogue and UI text, localization adjusts cultural references, modifies visual elements, changes character appearances, adapts humor and jokes, converts currencies and measurement systems, and ensures cultural sensitivity. Translation solves for understanding; localization solves for resonance and cultural connection. A translated game might be technically playable but feel foreign to players, while a localized game feels like it was originally created for that specific market and culture.
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What is AI in game localization?
AI in game localization refers to the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to translate and adapt game content for different languages and regions. These systems can speed up routine translation tasks, improve consistency across large volumes of text, and provide initial drafts that human linguists refine for cultural and contextual accuracy. At Side, we take this a step further with AI-augmented translation solutions built specifically for games. Our models are trained on game terminology and regional player preferences across 10+ major markets, ensuring accuracy that generic translation tools often miss. With a “human-in-the-loop” approach, our model intelligently determines when to leverage AI for speed and consistency, and when to step in with creative finesse.
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How do I choose the right game localization company?
Look for proven scale and expertise. Consider comprehensive service coverage rather than single-point solutions. For instance, Side offers everything from multilingual translation and culturalization to localization engineering, localization QA , and audio localization capabilities under one roof. Most importantly, assess their understanding of gaming culture and technical requirements. Our hybrid localization model ensures we know when to leverage AI and MT for efficiency and when to step in with more creativity, while our localization experts across our global studios bring extensive AAA game experience to guarantee your players stay immersed in the world you've created.