Game Localization · All Services
Indie Game Localization
Native translators. Genre expertise. LocQA included. Get a free quote →
Indie games reach global audiences from day one — platforms like Steam, itch.io, and mobile app stores are international by default. Localization is often one of the highest-ROI investments an indie studio can make: adding Spanish or German can double or triple accessible market size at a fraction of development cost. SandVox works with indie studios of all sizes, offering flexible scope and clear per-project pricing that fits indie budgets.
Unique Localization Challenges
- Indie games often have distinctive authorial voice and humor that machine translation flattens — preserving the creator’s tone requires experienced literary translators
- Small teams typically don’t have localization infrastructure — we provide file format guidance and pipeline setup as part of the project
- Steam and itch.io store pages in target languages directly affect algorithm-driven discoverability — translation quality has measurable impact on wishlist conversion
- Post-launch community content (patch notes, dev updates, community posts) benefits from consistent localization to maintain player trust in each market
What We Localize
- Full Game Localization
- Steam/itch.io Store Page Translation
- Patch Notes & Update Copy
- Community Post Localization
- LocQA
Our Process
- Scope review: string count, file format, platform targets
- Pipeline setup guidance if needed (localization-ready file formats)
- Native translation with authorial voice preservation
- LocQA: platform-specific display testing
- Delivery in your build format, ready to ship
Languages Available
German · Spanish · French · Portuguese (BR) · Japanese · Korean · Chinese (Simplified) · Russian
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum project size SandVox works with for indie games?
We work with projects of all sizes. Small indie localizations (5,000–20,000 words) are scoped as fixed-price projects. We provide a quote based on word count, language pair, and content type within one business day.
Can you help us set up our game for localization if we haven’t done it before?
Yes. We provide pipeline guidance — covering string externalization, file format recommendations, and localization-readiness review — as part of the project scope. We want your game to be localizable, not just localized once.
Do you localize Steam store pages and marketing copy in addition to in-game text?
Yes. Store page localization (title, description, tags, screenshots descriptions) in native target language is offered as part of any localization project or as standalone work.
How do you preserve the distinctive voice of an indie game in translation?
We begin with a tone review — reading a sample of the source text and documenting the authorial voice (humor style, narrative register, recurring patterns). This brief guides the translator and is reviewed in the editorial pass.
Start Your Indie Game Localization Project
Tell us your word count, target languages, and timeline. We’ll send a quote within one business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
A reasonable rule of thumb: budget 10–20% of your total development budget for localization. For an indie game with 20,000–50,000 words, localizing into the top 5 languages (Japanese, Simplified Chinese, German, French, Portuguese Brazil) typically costs $15,000–$40,000 for text-only. If your game has meaningful narrative and you’re targeting Japanese players specifically, budget for Japanese at $3,600–$7,000 minimum. SandVox offers staged localization — launch in 1–2 languages, add more as revenue allows.
Simplified Chinese or Japanese — depending on your genre. Simplified Chinese delivers the largest player count and is relatively affordable ($0.12–$0.22/word). Japanese delivers high-spending players who champion indie games heavily on social media; a successful Japanese localization can double your sales. If your game has strong narrative elements, Japanese should be first. If it’s a visual/mechanical game with lighter text, Simplified Chinese first is often the better ROI. SandVox can advise based on your specific game’s genre and aesthetic.
SandVox manages the full localization pipeline for indie studios without dedicated localization staff. We handle string extraction (from Unity, Unreal, Godot, RPG Maker, Ren’Py, or custom engines), translation with specialist game translators, localization QA in the running game, and re-integration of translated files. You hand us a build and a string export; we hand back translated files ready to import. No localization manager required on your side.
Not if you work with a full-service localization partner. SandVox acts as the localization manager — we coordinate translators, manage terminology glossaries, run QA, and communicate all issues directly rather than routing everything through your team. For indie studios, this full-service model is more cost-effective than hiring an in-house localization manager for a single project. Ongoing relationship clients with regular content updates can set up a lightweight integration where new strings flow automatically to our team.