Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Translating the studios Localizing your favorite games by multilingual staff in video games, few elements are more important than player immersion. One tonally false moment, bad performance, translation error, or confusing instruction is enough to yank a player out of the developer's carefully crafted atmosphere, narrative and environments. It's no exaggeration to say that game localizers hold in their hands a game's regional success or failure. That's why game localization has come so far from the early days of one or two translators hunched over their spreadsheets. Professional studios oversee a highly sophisticated operation that blends translation, recording, performance, direction, technical engineering and much more, building experiences that resonate across cultures and languages.
[00:00:50] We asked just a few studios, all of which have overseen localization for major titles about their past, present and future. If you play games, you can rest assured that the featured studios have Translated one or two of your favorite digital worlds for millions Lionbridge Games history and positioning In 2025, Lionbridge Games opened its second facility in Mexico City, Mexico. With that opening, the company became fully operational across Latin America with locations in Mexico City, Mexico and so Paulo, Brazil. And Latin America is just part of the story.
[00:01:29] With a global studio network spanning 16 cities in North America, Europe and Asia, Lionbridge Games offers a true follow the sun approach to localization, audio testing, player experience and multimedia. Wherever a project is in the world, a lionbridge Games team is ready to pick it up in market, in culture and around the clock services and capabilities.
[00:01:53] Lion Bridge Games newest Mexico City location features an audio studio and multimedia talents complementing its first location, a state of the art test lab that opened in 2023.
[00:02:04] Together they offer the full picture, testing, localization, audio and multimedia all under one regional roof. It's a reflection of lionbridge Games commitment to showing up completely for the global gaming community right in the heart of one of its most exciting centers, case studies and standout projects. Lionbridge Games is proud to have worked with some of the biggest titles in gaming Gears 5, Final Fantasy XV, Hitman, Astral Chain, Bloodstain, Ritual of the night, Phantasy, Star Online 2 VRSE, Batman, Warhammer, Chaosbane, Gigantic and more. Round Table Studio History and Positioning Roundtable Studio was founded in 2003 in Buenos Aires, Argentina and opened a second production office in Porto Alegre, Brazil, focusing first on software language service for the Latin American market. The primary focus in the early days was on the software industry.
[00:03:06] In 2010 the company expanded into video game localization, taking advantage of the strong synergies between software and games localization processes. As client demand evolved RTS progressively incorporated dubbing into its localization pipeline, initially through a strategic partnership with the audio recording studio Caja D Rudos, also based in Buenos Aires. The collaboration led to a formal partnership between both companies. In 2019.
[00:03:35] RTS constructed a new state of the art facility featuring seven recording rooms and cutting edge technology, followed by the joint relocation of both companies into the new studio complex in 2025. The move added audiovisual localization as a new vertical, providing audio solutions for films, TV series, soap operas, documentaries and much more. Today, RTS positions itself as an integrated localization and dubbing partner for global entertainment, gaming and technology brands, combining linguistic expertise, cultural adaptation and premium audio production under a unified creative workflow, services and capabilities.
[00:04:15] RTS's team of qualified professionals includes language specialists, project managers, localization engineers, AI experts, artistic directors and audio technicians. In line with our mission to be a Latin America Regional Specialist, we have in recent years helped clients to process projects into indigenous languages such as Kangang, Ningatu, Quechua, Guarani and others.
[00:04:40] Our focus remains on Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, offering a complete range of textual language content services including translation, adaptation, transcription, proofreading, localization, testing, creative writing, desktop publishing, graphics processing and linguistic quality assurance across a wide range of sectors.
[00:05:02] We also provide audio localization services to multimedia clients with needs in this space such as video games, broadcasting, webcomics, E learning and edutainment.
[00:05:13] These include voice over, dubbing, casting, pre production, recording, post production, script translation and adaptation as well as subtitling. Our studio infrastructure supports full production pipelines in 7.1.4 ready mixing rooms equipped with Pro Tools, HDX systems, Genelec monitoring, Newman U87 microphones and Avalon preamps. We deliver professional mixing and mastering for 2.0, 5.1, 7.1 IMAX and Dolby Atmos formats, combining technical excellence with culturally authentic localization workflows. In line with recent developments in the field of artificial intelligence, RRTS created an AI task force in response to increasing client demand.
[00:06:01] A key deliverable from the task force has been our proprietary tool set round which helped us adapt 7 million words from Iberian Spanish into Latin American Spanish in just two weeks.
[00:06:14] Case studies and standout projects Since 2018 we've worked on a legendary dark fantasy action series. It presented a unique creative challenge conveying extensive regional variety within the game's world.
[00:06:28] To achieve this, we implemented specific pronunciation rules to generate distinct in world accents and tonal shifts within neutral Spanish. For such a lore rich world and unprecedented talent selection, a creative hands on approach was essential for the remaster of a cult classic anime inspired franchise. Our expertise in localizing Japanese content for Latin American, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese granted a strategic dual reference approach to fully capture nuances.
[00:06:58] Despite a 12 hour time difference requiring remote client attendance, we set up a dynamic collaborative workflow for all lines involved. In the case of a popular football simulation game, we aimed for a level of regional authenticity that goes beyond standard recording sessions to capture the passionate atmosphere of Abuena's Aires football stadium, we implemented the Dante Protocol to record four voices simultaneously while maintaining total isolation. On the technical side, we utilized DP lavalier microphones, typically reserved for musical theater and motion capture to grant the 24 talents complete freedom of movement and feed off each other's energy and spontaneity.
[00:07:40] Quoted History and Positioning As a video game first localization company for over 25 years, Quoted focuses on Brazilian Portuguese translation, linguistic quality assessment and dubbing for publishers and localization partners worldwide. Since its foundation, the company has specialized in gaming localization.
[00:08:02] We collaborate on projects across multiple genres, platforms and audiences ranging from family friendly titles to large scale AAA productions, always maintaining a strong commitment to quality, cultural adaptation and player experience.
[00:08:18] We combine linguistic quality with a deep understanding of gaming culture and audience expectations.
[00:08:24] We understand that localization is not simply a technical translation process, but rather an extension of game development itself. Every project requires attention not only to terminology and consistency, but also to the tone, immersion, humor, character identity and emotional impact intended by the original creators.
[00:08:44] Because of this, QUOTED invests in experienced native linguists, specialized reviewers, dubbing professionals and production pipelines to deliver natural, authentic content for local players. We have collaborated with multiple publishers and translation agencies worldwide, supporting projects with flexible and scalable workflows while maintaining close communication with clients and development teams. This collaborative mindset has allowed us to build long term relationships with with global partners while adapting to evolving production realities. We recently expanded our recording capabilities into Latin American Spanish, enabling multilingual productions and larger regional launches for the Latin American market.
[00:09:25] Currently, we collaborate with multiple publisher approved partner studios equipped with cutting edge technology to deliver high quality localization and dubbing services.
[00:09:34] This structure allows us to support productions across different regions while maintaining consistent quality standards and operational flexibility.
[00:09:43] Services and capabilities Our main partner studio in so Paulo operates with four professional recording rooms and can handle multiple high demand projects simultaneously. This setup enables us to scale according to project complexity and scheduling needs while ensuring production continuity for clients, managing global releases and live service titles.
[00:10:04] Together with our partners, we provide a full range of localization and audio services including translation, localization, quality assurance, QA dubbing, live casting sessions, script review and adaptation, voice direction, pre production and post production support, game recording and linguistic validation One of our workflow strengths is the close integration between linguistic adaptation and audio production. Before recording begins. Scripts go through review and adaptation processes to ensure that dialogue sounds natural, culturally appropriate, and aligned with character identity and gameplay context.
[00:10:43] We also collaborate with native professionals and regional specialists who understand the expectations of local audiences and can identify cultural nuances before content reaches the recording stage. This process helps maintain authenticity while ensuring consistency with the original creative vision. Our workflows are designed to support both creative flexibility and production efficiency.
[00:11:06] We understand the realities of modern game development, including fast iteration cycles, live updates, simultaneous multilingual releases, and evolving scripts during production. Because of this, we prioritize transparent communication, organized production, tracking, and scalable localization pipelines. In addition to production capabilities, Quoted has received industry recognition through multiple awards reflecting the quality of our collaborations and the trust placed in us by publishers and players alike. Case studies and Standout projects One of Quoted's highlights from last year was spongebob Titans of the Tide, published by longtime partner THQ Nordic. We were responsible for both translation and dubbing in Brazilian, Portuguese and Mexican Spanish featuring the regular cast from the animated series.
[00:11:58] An important collaboration across multiple territories, it demonstrated our ability to coordinate multilingual productions while maintaining consistency and quality between regions. The reception from players was extremely positive, especially regarding the authenticity of the performances and the quality of the adaptation. The work required special attention to tone, humor and character identity as audiences already have strong emotional connections to the franchise and its voice cast and our work resonated strongly with them. As the industry evolves, we remain focused on expanding our capabilities, strengthening our partnerships and delivering high quality localization and dubbing experiences. Perfect Sound History and Positioning Founded in 2010, Perfect Sound provides high end dubbing and localization services for video games and audiovisual content.
[00:12:52] Founded in Madrid by Carlos Vega and Sergio Lopez, osa, the studio is capable of handling translation, adaptation, dubbing, audio, post production and linguistic QA for AAA titles, films and animated productions. Today, Perfect Sound is one of the few independent localization and dubbing studios of its size still operating in Spain. In an industry increasingly dominated by large multinational groups, the company has deliberately chosen a different path, competing through quality, flexibility and close collaboration rather than through scale alone. Services and capabilities.
[00:13:30] The studio's facilities were designed specifically for demanding audiovisual and game localization productions. Perfect Sound operates three professional recording booths, including a 35 square meter cinema ready mixing room prepared for 7.1 and Dolby Atmos workflows. The infrastructure combines high end recording technology, Universal Audio Systems, Newman microphones, and dedicated dubbing and localization software pipelines. The studio also maintains secure internal systems with encrypted workflows, firewall protection, and controlled access environments to comply with a publisher confidentiality requirements. Beyond infrastructure, one of the company's key strengths lies in its people.
[00:14:14] The team combines more than 30 years of industry experience across localization, artistic direction, production, sound engineering, and QA management.
[00:14:24] The studio also collaborates with a large network of external specialists, including more than 500 voice talents and over 50 freelance translators and reviewers. Perfect Sound Services cover the full audiovisual localization lifecycle for games and narrative productions.
[00:14:40] This includes translation, editorial review, cultural adaptation, lip sync and strict timing adaptation, dubbing, production, artistic direction, voice casting, audio editing, mixing, and linguistic qa. The company specializes particularly in European, Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian, Portuguese, French and German productions, while also coordinating multilingual workflows through trusted international partner studios, case studies and standout projects. Perfect Sound has collaborated with some of the industry's leading publishers and localization companies, including CD Projekt, RED, Ubisoft, EA, PlayOn, Mundfish, and 2K. One of the most significant milestones in the studio's history was Cyberpunk 2077. Perfect sound was responsible for the game's European Spanish, full localization and dubbing. Involving more than 1.4 million recorded words. The project represented a major creative challenge due to the cultural diversity of Night City. Many characters originated from Latin American, Brazilian, and Japanese backgrounds, and the team made the unusual decision to cast actors of similar nationalities who performed in Spanish while preserving authentic accents and speech patterns. Another landmark production was Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, one of the largest dubbing projects ever produced in European Spanish. The game involved more than 2 million recorded words and over 90 actors per language.
[00:16:12] Internally, the project surpassed even those numbers once secondary characters and production iterations were included, ultimately involving well over a thousand characters across the full game experience.
[00:16:24] The result was widely praised both by players and industry professionals.
[00:16:28] For Battlefield 6, the team experimented with four different microphones and recording configurations to achieve distinct sonic textures depending on the character and context. For Split Fiction, both lead actors were recorded simultaneously inside the same booth to preserve spontaneity and emotional chemistry between the protagonists.
[00:16:49] Meanwhile, on Assassin's Creed Shadows, the studio collaborated closely with Japanese specialists to ensure cultural and linguistic authenticity throughout the localization process.
[00:17:00] At a time when AI is becoming an increasingly important topic within the localization and dubbing industries, we strongly believe that artistic direction, emotional interpretation, and cultural sensitivity remain fundamentally human disciplines. Molex Studios History and positioning. Molex Studios offers AA project management and vendor selection, quick turnaround and post delivery support, English text review and linguistic consulting, translation and editing, accessibility and compliance checks, terminology specialists, an extensive multilingual actor database, and more. As unabashed gamers, readers, musicians, movie fans and geeks, we aim to provide all users with the same or better immersion and understanding in any given language, irrespective of product complexity and subject matter.
[00:17:53] We're an independent company powered by a small core team boasting over 10 years experience in the industry as illustrated by an abundance of glowing reviews, services and capabilities.
[00:18:05] Annually, Moloch Studios achieves over 8 million words, translated more than 239,000 posts, produced audio files across multiple languages, more than 2,000 sound effects created more than 180,000 minutes of voice recording, and more than 9,500 minutes of localized video for anime, gaming, movies and trailers. We don't just deliver quality translations, compelling dialogues and engaging experiences for players and viewers. Thanks to our press office and our constant collaboration with artists, Internet personalities and journalists, we also provide an additional level of visibility to the products we localize. We help vendors spread the word of their products with the help of actors and celebrities.
[00:18:50] Our social profiles can reach up to 30,000 profiles with a single not sponsored post. A little extra marketing campaign that we provide alongside your marketing team if requested, with no extra costs. Case studies and standout projects Moloch Studios has partnered with major publishers working on gaming projects like Batman, Arkham Shadow, Clare, Obscure Expedition 33, Gears of War 4 and 5 Overwatch, Reign of Talon, Wakung, Fallen Feathers, Blades of Fire, Suicide Squad, Kill, the Justice League and many more. Our non gaming projects include anime movies and series like Chainsaw Man, One Piece Film, Red Lupin the Third, A Legend Detain, and Dragon Ball super, just to name a few.
