Localization
Translate your game content into 30+ languages quickly and affordably. Reach global audiences without the time and cost of traditional translation services.
What is the Localization Tool?
The Localization tool helps indie developers bring their games to international markets without the high costs and long timelines of traditional translation services. Making your game available in multiple languages can significantly increase your potential player base and revenue.
This tool translates your game text files into over 30 languages commonly used by Steam players, from major markets like Spanish, French, and German to emerging markets like Vietnamese and Indonesian.
Why Localize Your Game?
Localization is one of the most effective ways to increase your game's reach and sales. Many players prefer or exclusively purchase games in their native language. Here's why indie developers should consider localization:
- •Expand your potential market: Access millions of additional players worldwide
- •Increase conversion rates: Players are more likely to purchase games they can understand
- •Improve Steam visibility: Steam's algorithm favors games available in multiple languages
- •Competitive advantage: Many indie games only support English, putting them at a disadvantage
- •Better reviews: Players appreciate games that respect their language and culture
Traditional Translation Challenges
Hiring professional translators can be prohibitively expensive for indie developers with limited budgets:
Professional translation typically costs $0.10-$0.30 per word, which can mean thousands of dollars per language for even a small game. A game with 10,000 words translated into 5 languages could cost $5,000-$15,000.
The process is time-consuming, often taking weeks or months to coordinate with multiple translators, review work, and implement corrections.
Finding reliable translators who understand gaming terminology and context can be difficult, especially for niche genres.
Traditional services often have high minimum fees that make translating small updates financially impractical.
The Localization tool provides a fast, affordable alternative that makes multiple language support accessible to developers of all budget levels.
How to Use the Localization Tool
The translation process is designed to be simple and straightforward:
1. Prepare Your Files
The tool accepts two file formats: JSON and CSV.
Make sure your file contains all the text you want to translate (UI elements, dialogue, item descriptions, etc.).
File size limit: 40KB maximum
Keep your source files organized with clear keys or identifiers for each text string
2. Upload and Select Languages
Click "Choose File" and select your JSON or CSV file
Select which languages you want to translate to from the dropdown menu
You can select multiple languages to translate all at once
Each language costs 50 credits, regardless of the amount of text (up to 40KB)
3. Review and Download
The tool will process your translations and display them in the transaction history
You can download individual language files or use "Download All" to get a ZIP file containing all translations
Each translation maintains the same structure as your original file, making implementation easy
Supported Languages
The Localization tool supports 30+ languages that cover Steam's major markets:
European Languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, Polish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Hungarian, Czech, Romanian, Bulgarian, Greek
Asian Languages: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian
Other Languages: Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Steam China (Simplified Chinese variant)
This coverage includes all of Steam's officially supported languages, ensuring you can reach players wherever they are.
File Format Guidelines
To get the best results, follow these guidelines when preparing your files:
JSON Format
Use a simple key-value structure for best results
Keep keys in English for easy reference
Values should contain the text to be translated
Nested objects are supported
Example structure: {"ui_start": "Start Game", "ui_options": "Options", "dialogue_greeting": "Hello, traveler!"}
CSV Format
First column should contain keys or identifiers
Second column should contain the text to translate
Include a header row for clarity
Properly escape commas and quotes in your text
Example: Key,Text / ui_start,Start Game / ui_options,Options
Best Practices for Game Localization
While the tool handles the translation, there are important considerations to ensure quality localization:
- •Keep text concise: Translations often expand 20-30% in length, especially for languages like German
- •Avoid slang and idioms: These rarely translate well across cultures
- •Use clear, simple language in your source text: Ambiguous phrases lead to ambiguous translations
- •Consider cultural context: Some references, jokes, or concepts may not work in all cultures
- •Plan your UI for text expansion: Make sure your interface can accommodate longer translated strings
- •Test thoroughly: Have native speakers playtest if possible to catch awkward translations
- •Use consistent terminology: Translate the same terms the same way throughout your game
Technical Considerations
When implementing localization in your game, keep these technical aspects in mind:
- •Font support: Make sure your fonts include characters for all languages (especially Asian languages)
- •Text encoding: Use UTF-8 encoding to support special characters
- •UI layout: Design flexible layouts that adapt to different text lengths
- •String formatting: Avoid hardcoded string concatenation (use proper formatting systems)
- •Right-to-left languages: While not currently supported, plan for potential future expansion
- •Plural forms: Different languages have different plural rules
- •Date and number formats: These vary by region and should be localized too
Which Languages to Prioritize
If you're on a tight budget, start with these high-impact languages based on Steam's player base:
Tier 1 (Highest Impact)
English (if not your source language)
Simplified Chinese - Massive market with high purchasing power
German - Large European market with strong game purchasing habits
Spanish/Latin American Spanish - Wide reach across multiple countries
Russian - Large player base with growing market
Tier 2 (Strong Secondary Markets)
French - Significant European market
Portuguese/Brazilian Portuguese - Growing South American market
Japanese - Dedicated gaming market
Korean - Active gaming culture
Polish - Enthusiastic gaming community
Tier 3 (Additional Coverage)
Add other European languages (Italian, Dutch, Swedish, etc.) and Asian languages (Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian) as budget allows to maximize global reach
Managing Updates
Games evolve over time with updates and new content. Here's how to handle translation updates efficiently:
When you add new content, create a new file with just the new strings that need translation rather than re-translating everything. This saves credits and keeps costs predictable.
Keep a master spreadsheet tracking which strings have been translated into which languages, making it easier to manage updates.
Consider translating major updates only for your top-performing language markets if budget is limited.
The transaction history keeps all your previous translations, so you can always reference or re-download them if needed.
Credit Costs
Localization pricing is straightforward and predictable:
- •50 credits per language, regardless of content amount (up to 40KB file size)
- •Translate to multiple languages in one upload to save time
- •All translations are saved to your account and can be re-downloaded anytime
- •Transaction history shows all past translations with download links
Ready to try Localization?
Start using this tool to improve your game's marketing and reach more players on Steam.
Go to Localization