Localisation
Cultural Adaptation
Great games transcend borders, but culture is local. Cultural Adaptation goes beyond simple translation to ensure your game's content, themes, and imagery resonate safely and effectively in every target market.
We help you navigate the complex landscape of global geopolitics, religious sensitivities, and regional taboos, protecting your brand from costly controversies and ensuring your game feels at home, everywhere.
Geopolitical Sensitivity
Borders change, and maps are political. We review your game's world maps, historical references, and flag usage against the specific regulations and sentiments of your target regions. We ensure you don't accidentally alienate an entire nation or face a ban due to a disputed border line or sensitive historical event.
Religious & Cultural Taboos
What is heroic in one culture may be offensive in another. We rigorously audit your character designs, dialogue, and plot points for religious iconography, gestures, or themes that could violate local blasphemy laws or cultural taboos. We help you modify content to be respectful without compromising your creative vision.
Regional Regulation Compliance
China, Germany, the Middle East—key markets have strict and unique content regulations. We provide detailed reports on blood, gore, gambling mechanics, and skeletal imagery, advising on the specific changes required to pass certification in these high-value but highly regulated territories.
Symbolism & Gesture Review
A "thumbs up" isn't friendly everywhere. We analyse the non-verbal communication within your game, from hand gestures and colour symbolism to animal imagery. We identify visual cues that might carry unintended negative connotations in specific markets, allowing you to tweak assets before they cause offense.
Bringing Your Brand Across Borders
In a connected world, a single oversight can spark a global backlash. We apply a discipline of deep cultural intelligence to your development process. By combining academic rigour with native market insight, we elevate your project from a product to a cultural artefact. We don't just protect you from bans; we help you build a game that earns respect and loyalty in every corner of the globe.
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9.5/10
Average client review score out of 10 (2024)
14.5+
million source words a year
Case Studies
Read more on some of the exciting projects we've supported, and find out how our unique flexible approach can solve unique challenges.
Fireside Feelings
For Indie titles, budgets are often small and bang for buck is king, so how did Universally Speaking partner with The CoLab to bring AAA quality on an Indie budget for their debut title, Fireside Feelings?
Remastering a AAA Classic
When the title is a remake of a much acclaimed AAA classic, how do you do justice to the source material moving into new languages? Easy, you call US.
Fluent in Horror
Oooh, that was creepy. But is it creepy in Swedish? How about Japanese? When the title is a narrative horror game, getting the tone wrong breaks immersion and can turn a thriller into a farce.
Interested in working with US?
We’re here to help you deliver world-class testing and localisation support. Let’s talk about how we can work together.
what our clients have to say
We would definitely recommend their services. What impresses me most is their flexibility and dedication to customer service. US has the ability to ramp up and down very quickly to meet changing project needs and deadlines.
Producer - Capcom
US has supported our testing requirements for our video streaming applications. US’ support is pivotal to reaching our targets and achieving submission deadlines. They are reactive and flexible to our needs allowing us to have the required support organised at short notice.
QA Manager - Amazon
Quick turnarounds, approachable, reliable, friendly and professional are just a few terms that I would associate with US. Turnaround times are all quick and of high quality. I would recommend US and I look forward to continually working with them on future projects.
Producer - 505
We’ve partnered with US for many years on multiple projects. No job is too big or too small for the team and they will always work hard to hit tight deadlines whilst still achieving the very highest quality standards.
Commercial Director - Ninja Theory
A big thank you to your entire team for all your invaluable work, and let’s continue making cool things together!
Outsourcing Manager - Remedy
US have never failed to provide a timely, friendly and high quality service. We are very happy to continue our relationship with them, and would recommend them to anyone looking for bespoke and flexible translation or QA work, with a smile.
Producer - Curve Digital
I have always been impressed with the speed and efficiency provided by US, no matter how tight the deadline, the translations are always high quality. US are ready and willing to help with any last minute changes or additions, no hassles and no fuss, professional and accommodating.
Localisation Co-Ordinator - Codemasters
