Hello, today I would like to talk about game localization. I recently started studying this topic and realized that I am quite capable of translating games from English into other languages, and I wanted to ask whether you think it is worth doing this on a regular basis? For example, translating many games into other languages, creating a Patreon account for support, etc. And here I mean not just one game, but many, and into a good number of languages. And yes, the quality is good, not a translation through Google Translate. Would you pay a couple of dollars for the opportunity to play any game in your language, and is it worth it? I hope to hear your answers.
VN Translating games into other languages and earning money from it
- Thread starter somethingLikeUser
- Start date
eevkyi
Member
- Aug 14, 2025
- 245
- 249
- 63
While there's a demand for high-quality translations, AI-powered translations have practically dominated this market thanks to the speed with which new translations can be delivered at virtually no cost.
To have any chance of monetizing this type of work using patreon and similar platforms, you'd have to focus solely on popular games, and even then, you'd be unlikely to deliver a polished new translation without taking at least several months. A more realistic option might be to build a portfolio and then try to offer your services to developers who don't want to translate their games using AI.
To have any chance of monetizing this type of work using patreon and similar platforms, you'd have to focus solely on popular games, and even then, you'd be unlikely to deliver a polished new translation without taking at least several months. A more realistic option might be to build a portfolio and then try to offer your services to developers who don't want to translate their games using AI.
whowhawhy
Well-Known Member
- Jan 19, 2023
- 1,005
- 1,654
- 222
i read the op as "mtl but i won't use the one that's the butt of every joke"
i see no mention of actually knowing "a good number of languages" or having a trusted army of translators to cover each one.
eevkyi
Member
- Aug 14, 2025
- 245
- 249
- 63
Yeah, it's unlikely anyone would be able to translate multiple games into multiple languages like that manually, but since I know people who are fluent in 4 languages and the op defined himself as capable, I gave him the benefit of the doubt.i read the op as "mtl but i won't use the one that's the butt of every joke"
i see no mention of actually knowing "a good number of languages" or having a trusted army of translators to cover each one.
Anyone can use AI to translate their game themselves. Best you can do is provide some kind of service that tests the game afterwards and checks if all the stuff is properly translated (No stuff like "All your base are belong to us" ). That's super tedious and takes a lot of time though.
Goeffel
Active Member
- Sep 10, 2022
- 937
- 660
- 193
that'd be the worst of the options nowadays, iiuc.
DazedAnon delivers chatGPT-based translations (Japanese) to English, for which he then regularly offers updates by auto-patcher. His translations are clearly above pure MTLs, but of course not like real, human translations. Nevertheless, he has made a name for certain level of quality and for being reliable , and he has some support via patreon.
Yet, it seems most of the patreon money goes to pay chatGPT fees ...
AFAIK there are also folks who claim a translation into English, have a patreon, receive some little money there, and then take their sweet time with delivering the translation, all the while getting some trickle money from patreon. As a business plan to me that seems sort of desparate.
Also, for other languages but maybe Spanish, you'd have a significantly smaller potential audience than with English, so ...
----------------
Personally, the games I'd like to see a translation for are too niche - niche gameplay, old, on old / custom engines, ... there would not be any money in doing those.
As someone who has only a modest level of English, I wouldn't.
I play in English only, except:
a) If I'm aware that the game was originally written in a different language, which I can understand to a high level. This is yet to happen in games, but I apply this rule to written material in general, so it would be feasible in VNs.
b) If there was a great localization effort behind it and I notice that right from the beginning, when switching to a different language (what I seldom do to begin with, except in AAA+ titles).
Otherwise, I go for English.
The last game I played in another language was Witcher 3, because what the localization accomplished there was really something outstanding. I recall replaying a few games here and there, but they always been dubbed (even Grim Fandango in late 90s was already dubbed). Never a VN.
I just don't see reason for getting text translated, unless it's subtitles.
I play in English only, except:
a) If I'm aware that the game was originally written in a different language, which I can understand to a high level. This is yet to happen in games, but I apply this rule to written material in general, so it would be feasible in VNs.
b) If there was a great localization effort behind it and I notice that right from the beginning, when switching to a different language (what I seldom do to begin with, except in AAA+ titles).
Otherwise, I go for English.
The last game I played in another language was Witcher 3, because what the localization accomplished there was really something outstanding. I recall replaying a few games here and there, but they always been dubbed (even Grim Fandango in late 90s was already dubbed). Never a VN.
I just don't see reason for getting text translated, unless it's subtitles.
Last edited: