Artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining the future of video gaming for developers and gamers alike. Enhanced facial capture brings new life to characters while AI logic creates more convincing environments and non-playable characters.
At the same time, AI technology is enhancing localisation strategies for studios and developers to create experiences for a wider range of language markets.
How is AI technology enhancing video game localisation?
AI technology is powering a new breed of automation tools that help video game localisers complete a range of tasks faster. This includes gaming translation and other language processes, but also a growing range of other tasks.
We’ll discuss these other tasks a little later in this article, but let’s start by looking at the key ways in which AI technology makes gaming localisation faster and more cost-effective:
- Speed: AI translation produces almost instantaneous results, completing the first stage of translation in minimal time.
- Scale: The leading AI tools can handle large scales of content at any given time.
- Cost reduction: Time savings help reduce translation costs or handle larger volumes for a given budget.
- Consistency: When integrated with other tools – such as translation memory and terminology management – AI translation can help improve consistency.
- Reach: The efficiency gained from AI technology can allow game developing companies and publishers to target more gaming markets.
- Returns: When used properly, AI can help developers and publishers localise games faster and maximise revenue.
- Accessibility: By lowering the entry bar, AI translation can help indie developers achieve more – as long as it is used correctly.
In the case of language localisation tasks, AI translation can instantly translate user interfaces, game dialogue, marketing assets and other resources.
Now, AI translation is not a replacement for professional gaming translation; it is a tool that can help video game localisation teams work faster.
All AI-translated content requires reviewing and editing by specialised video game localisation experts.
AI technology beyond gaming translation
Translation isn’t the only way AI is enhancing video game localisation. As AI technology continues to improve, developers and studios can use it for a growing range of tasks:
- AI-powered NPCs
- Generate alternative character designs
- Generate voiceover tracks
- World building and localisation
- In-game generative AI experiences
- Faster debugging and QC
As with translation, experts should always review and adapt the output of AI tools. For example, if you use generative AI to redesign characters for specific markets, designers with in-depth market knowledge should review potential designs to ensure cultural accuracy and sensitivity.
Responsible use of AI translation for video games
AI is opening a new world of possibilities for video game localisation, but the gaming industry needs to use the technology responsibly. This starts with understanding the limitations and potential risks of AI for each respective use case.
In the case of translation, accuracy and quality are the key limitations. So, without oversight from language experts, poor translations could harm the gaming experience and alienate gamers.
You only have to look for feedback from real gamers on the use of AI translation to understand the consequences of improperly using the technology:
“AI localization is just a tool, it is in no way able to replace a human. You will definitely end up with miss-translations as languages don’t translate into a 1:1 basis, your game will be poorly localized.” – Reddit user; What do you think about AI translations in gaming localization?
“As a gamer, I don’t like the idea of a bad translation (Google tard), or an AI translation, that would miss all the jokes and the context. Big no for me I’d rather play in English.” – Reddit user; What do you think about AI translations in gaming localization?
“Because linguistics is a human science (it’s not a hard science), translation requires human judgment to make calls constantly… Machine translation has been around for a long time… But in the end, it’s a translator’s tool, not a translator.” – Reddit user; What do you think about AI translations in gaming localization?
Likewise, if you’re using generative AI to localise character designs for different markets, cultural consultation should advise any potential designs to ensure they are culturally accurate and sensitive.
Level up your video game localisation
In the hands of video game localisation experts, AI technology is opening up games to more language markets than ever. With the correct integration and localisation processes, the technology can help you design, develop and market multilingual games faster and more cost-effectively.
Contact our video game localisation team here at Jackpot Translation to help you level up your game localisation strategy.