Press Releases
Games developers should pay closer attention to localisation to claim a bigger slice of $116 billion global market
Games developers looking to optimise their chances of success in a global market that is now worth almost $116 billion need to pay closer attention to localisation if they want their game or app to reach the widest possible audience.
International translation agency Asian Absolute says that as the size of the global consumer gaming market continues to increase, failure to localise effectively risks being cut off from a huge potential audience for your product. The company points out that only 27% of the consumer game market is English-speaking, with some of the largest other segments being speakers of Japanese, Korean, Russian, Mandarin and Cantonese – the Chinese online and mobile game market is valued at over ÂŁ22 billion.
âTo achieve the greatest commercial success and get the largest possible revenues and downloads, game developers need to reach a genuinely global audience,â explains Asian Absolute Managing Director, Julie Guigere.
âThis means speaking their language but thatâs more than just having the words on screen translated correctly. You need to also consider the cultural context in which the game was created. This means recognising that that, if youâre in the UK, your points of reference will not be the same as a gamer in China. If youâre in Japan, a user in the US will not necessarily find your user interface easy to navigate.â
Miss Giguere adds that if you compare the costs of developing a game with the cost of localising it for other markets versus the potential increase in market reach, it makes sound commercial sense to localise. This is all the more apparent if you consider that 50% of the countries in the Top 10 for downloads and revenue in the Apple Store are non-English speaking, and 80% of the countries in the Top 5 for downloads and revenue in the Google Play Store are non-English speaking.
âItâs not as simple as saying you now have a âSpanishâ version of your game or your app,â she continues. âThe Spanish spoken in Mexico, Argentina or Spain will all differ and a gamers in Hispanic America may be put off by cultural references which only make sense to an audience in Spain.â
Developers who make their games completely accessible to users in multiple territories not only gain commercially but also through brand appreciation.
âThe increasing global connectivity of gamers as a whole adds up to considerable profit potential. But it also adds up to a large number of potential users being exposed to your product and then becoming upset if it is not possible for them to enjoy the game comfortably. You only have to look at any review site to see the number of comments demanding localisation in the userâs preferred language. These days, game localisation is viewed increasingly as a gamerâs right rather than a privilege.â
Founded in 2000, Asian Absolute is an international translation agency with offices in London, Beijing, Chiayi, Melbourne, New York, Panama, Bangkok and Varna. It provides translation, localisation, interpretation and marketing services required for success in global markets by enabling businesses and other organisations to communicate confidently and effectively in any given language.
Industry News
MiFinity to Showcase Innovative iFrame at SiGMA 2024
MiFinity, a leading global payment services provider, is excited to announce its participation at SiGMA 2024, held in Malta from 12 to 14 November. Visitors can find MiFinity at Stand 2012, where the team will be showcasing its award winning PayAnyBank service, and the latest version of the MiFinity iFrame and demonstrating how it helps iGaming operators acquire and retain players with a seamless, flexible payment experience.
Paul Kavanagh, CEO of MiFinity, commented: âSiGMA is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our latest developments and engage directly with the iGaming community. The MiFinity iFrame is a game-changer for operators looking to streamline their payment processes and enhance the player experience. We look forward to demonstrating its capabilities and connecting with both existing and prospective partners.â
MiFinityâs Business Development and Account Management teams will be on-site to discuss the new iFrame features in-depth and highlight how MiFinity can optimise payments for iGaming operators. They will also be showcasing MiFinityâs innovative suite of payment solutions developed specifically for the iGaming sector, including MiFinity PayAnyBank â a powerful tool that enables operators to send payouts directly to playersâ bank accounts in multiple countries and currencies, enhancing the user experience with faster, more localised transactions and reduced FX fees.
The MiFinity Affiliates team will also be available to explain the benefits of MiFinityâs affiliate program, which offers some of the highest commissions in the industry and unique promotional opportunities via the MiFinity Bonus website.
Meet the MiFinity team at Stand 2012 at SiGMA 2024 to learn more about the companyâs solutions and how they are transforming the iGaming payment landscape. Pre-book a meeting with the MiFinity team or drop by the stand during the event to explore how MiFinity can support your business.
Book a meeting here > outlook.office365.com/book/[email protected]/
Latest News
ECA and AGEM applaud creation of Association Assembly at ICE Barcelona
The news that Januaryâs ICE Barcelona will include a major new feature dedicated to global gamingâs most influential trade associations has been welcomed by organisations in Europe and abroad.
Making full use of the additional space at the Gran Via Fira de Barcelona, the first ICE Association Assembly has been created to enable trade bodies to promote their values and create new opportunities for the gaming community across every sector and geography, including both the Brussels-based European Casino Association (ECA) and the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), the global trade association for gaming equipment suppliers with its primary headquarters in Las Vegas.
Erwin Van Lambaart, Chair of the ECA confirmed: âOur members are already planning their week in Barcelona and they will be at this historic edition of ICE in great numbers. ICE is a pivotal event for the global gaming community and having a show floor feature which will enable us to engage directly with all sectors is a unique opportunity.
“Traditionally, our association’s involvement at ICE and its Conference program has primarily centred around networking and product development orientationâconnecting with our members, regulators, suppliers, and fellow trade bodies. However, ICE 2025 marks a significant milestone. For the first time, the ECA will have the chance to fully interface with the global industry supply chain in its entirety. We are looking forward to this unique opportunity to articulate our vision for the future to a diverse and comprehensive audience, where innovation, responsibility and significant partnerships for guest and customer centricity will have centre stage.”
Daron Dorsey, CEO of AGEM added: âWe represent the interests of our gaming suppliers whose well-known brands are global in reach, so to be given the opportunity to explain our agenda and engage with what is a truly international audience of association colleagues on the ICE show floor is invaluable.â
Januaryâs editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate will occupy 120,000sqm of space compared to the 100,00sqm at ICE 2024. In a major endorsement of the opportunities offered by the relocation to Barcelona 72% of the 25 biggest exhibitors will have an increased stand presence at ICE 2025.
Industry Awards
Blask Wins Prestigious “Startup of the Year” at 2024 Starlet Awards
Blask, the pioneering AI-powered analytics ecosystem for iGaming, has been named “Startup of the Year” at the prestigious 2024 Starlet Awards. The company earned this recognition for developing a groundbreaking market intelligence platform that has redefined how gaming operators leverage data and market insights.
Award Recognition
The award confirms Blask’s revolutionary approach to market analytics and its significant impact on how iGaming companies access and utilise market intelligence. Powered by AI models including Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing, Blask analyses billions of data points across 2000+ active brands to provide unprecedented market insights.
The Starlet Awards recognition follows Blask’s recent SiGMA Asia Startup Pitch 2024 Award victory. “Winning these awards affirms our belief that innovation and bold ideas can reshape the iGaming landscape. The recognition underscores the impact of our cutting-edge AI technology and our relentless pursuit to transform data into actionable insights”, reflects Max Tesla, CEO and Co-founder of Blask
Blask provides operators with a strategic edge across multiple critical areas. Its real-time market analysis capabilities deliver instant access to crucial market metrics, while the high-granularity data available at one-hour intervals enables swift, informed decision-making. The sophisticated AI modelling system estimates GGR and FTD by analysing a comprehensive range of inputs, including historical data, third-party OSINT data, market performance, competitor metrics, historical brand performance, market reports, and public company disclosures.
Beyond analytics, Blask offers robust brand monitoring and competitor analysis tools, alongside strategic and tactical planning capabilities particularly valuable for market entry decisions and maximising performance during major events. The recently introduced customer profile feature harnesses AI to generate detailed, country-specific user profiles, adding another layer of strategic insight for operators.
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