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Visual Novel Localization
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Visual novels are among the most text-intensive game formats — a full-length VN can contain 500,000 words or more of narrative, dialog, and inner monologue. Visual novel localization demands literary translation quality, not just accuracy: character voices must be consistent across hundreds of thousands of words, branching dialog trees must be tracked, and the emotional register of the source must survive the translation process. SandVox specializes in visual novel and narrative game localization for global audiences.
Unique Localization Challenges
- Character voice consistency across extremely long scripts is the defining challenge — a character who sounds different in chapter 10 versus chapter 1 breaks immersion
- Branching dialog requires tracking every path and maintaining consistency across choices that affect the same character in different scenes
- Honorific systems (Japanese keigo, Korean speech levels) require documented policy that applies consistently throughout the entire script
- Literary quality matters more here than in UI localization — the writing must feel like native literature, not translated text
What We Localize
- Full Script Translation
- Character Voice Profiling
- Branching Dialog Tree Management
- Choice Text Localization
- System UI & Menu Strings
- Voice-Over Script Preparation
- LocQA
Our Process
- Script analysis: character count, branching structure, word count per route
- Character voice profiles: speech register, vocabulary range, relationship-dependent speech levels
- Translation in script order with branch tracking
- Literary editorial pass: native-language editor reviews for naturalness and voice consistency
- LocQA: display testing, encoding, font rendering, text overflow
Languages Available
English · German · Spanish · French · Portuguese (BR) · Chinese (Simplified + Traditional) · Korean
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you ensure character voice consistency across a very long visual novel script?
We create a character profile document before translation begins — covering each character’s speech register, vocabulary patterns, relationship-dependent variation, and key recurring phrases. This is used throughout translation and enforced in the editorial review pass.
Can you handle visual novel scripts with complex branching structures?
Yes. We use branch-tracking workflows that map dialog choices to outcomes, ensuring consistency across routes where the same character appears with different players or in different emotional states.
What is the turnaround for a full visual novel localization?
A 100,000-word VN typically takes 6–10 weeks with milestone delivery. Longer scripts (300,000–500,000 words) are planned over 4–6 months with route-by-route delivery. We scope per project.
Do you localize visual novel voice-over scripts as well as text?
Yes. Voice-over script preparation — adapted for natural spoken delivery in the target language — is in scope. We coordinate with your audio team on timing constraints and recording format requirements.
Start Your Visual Novel Localization Project
Tell us your word count, target languages, and timeline. We’ll send a quote within one business day.