Boost Your Game’s Reach: A Guide to Vietnamese Game Localization for Developers

The Vietnamese gaming market is booming. With a large and tech-savvy population, it presents a great opportunity for game developers to expand their reach. But to truly connect with Vietnamese players, you’ll need to go beyond a simple translation. That’s where game localization comes in.

Localizing your game can improve the user experience and therefore boost sales. Players are more likely to connect with a game that speaks their language and understands their culture, leading to a more enjoyable experience. Localized games tend to perform better financially in targeted international markets, maximizing your return on investment. 

If you’re looking for Vietnamese game localization, it’s essential to consider all aspects of the game, including messaging, chat, and other features, to ensure they are expressed in a friendly and culturally appropriate language. This attention to detail can significantly impact the game’s success in a new market.

In this article, we will help you learn the importance and process of game localization. Also, we’ll provide you a guide to Vietnamese game localization for developers.

The Rise Of The Vietnamese Gaming Market

The Vietnamese gaming market is indeed experiencing significant growth. In 2024, the revenue in the Video Games market in Vietnam is projected to reach USD 456.50 million, with an expected annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2027) of 8.68%, resulting in a projected market volume of USD 586.00 million by 2027. The largest segment within this market is Mobile Games, which is projected to have a market volume of USD 215.70 million in 2024.

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The rise of Vietnamese gaming market

Vietnam, being one of the top three Southeast Asian game markets in terms of revenue and gamer population size, is ripe for developers who are willing to invest in game localization strategies. It’s not just about reaching a wider audience, but also about enhancing the gaming experience to meet the expectations and cultural preferences of Vietnamese players.

What is game localization

Game localization is the process of adapting a video game to meet the cultural, linguistic, and technical requirements of a specific target market. Game localization aims to create an immersive and engaging experience for players, making them feel as if the game was developed specifically for their region. It’s more than just translating text – it’s about making your game culturally relevant and engaging for a new audience. This includes:

  • Translation: Professional translation into the native tongue of the target audience for dialogue, menus, subtitles, and marketing materials by native speakers who understand the cultural nuances of the language.
  • Cultural Adaptation: Adjust jokes, references, and imagery to resonate with local players and fit the culture.
  • Technical Considerations: Modifying code, user interfaces, and in-game functionalities to align with local devices, formats, and standards.
  • UI/UX Optimization: Text size and layout might need adjustments to fit the target market’s alphabet and reading habits.
  • Legal Compliance: Ensuring the game meets local legal and regulatory requirements, including content restrictions and age ratings.

Why is game localization important

The global gaming market is diverse, with millions of players in countries like Vietnam eager for new and engaging content. To reach these new audiences, speaking their language and understanding their culture is crucial. Game localization is crucial for several reasons, each of which plays a significant role in the success of a game in a new market.

  1. Market Expansion: Entering new markets through localization can significantly expand a game’s audience and revenue potential. By localizing your game, you open the door to these players, who might otherwise be deterred by language barriers and cultural differences. This expansion can lead to a substantial increase in sales and downloads, as well as greater brand recognition and loyalty in previously untapped regions.
  2. Cultural Relevance: Cultural relevance is a critical factor in a game’s success. Players are more likely to engage with a game that resonates with their cultural background and values. By ensuring cultural relevance, you can create a more immersive and relatable gaming experience for players.
  3. Competitive Edge: In a crowded market, localized games often outperform non-localized versions. Localization gives you a competitive edge by making your game more accessible and appealing to local players. This advantage is particularly important in markets like Vietnam, where the gaming community is rapidly growing, and players have high expectations for quality and localization. 
  4. Enhance User Experience: Localization significantly enhances the overall gameplay experience, leading to higher player satisfaction and retention. When players can fully understand and appreciate a game’s narrative, instructions, and interface, they are more likely to enjoy the game and continue playing. This improved user experience can result in positive reviews, higher ratings, and increased word-of-mouth recommendations. 
Why is game localization important
Game localization plays a significant role in the success of a game in a new market

Vietnamese game localization process at GIANTY

At GIANTY, we follow a comprehensive and meticulous game localization process to ensure that your game is perfectly tailored for the Vietnamese game development market. Here’s a step-by-step look at our process:

Game Localization Process
GIANTY’s game localization process

At GIANTY, our game localization team is composed of highly skilled professionals dedicated to delivering top-notch Vietnamese game localization services. Our dynamic team will help bring your game to life for the Vietnamese audience with precision and cultural sensitivity.

Our successful game localization case study: Gokko World

GIANTY proudly assisted in bringing Gokko Land to Vietnam with the name Gokko World. Gokko Land is an educational game that lets kids experience different careers through fun and and engaging gameplay. With over 5M downloads on the Japanese mobile app store, the game has been such a hit in Japan. 

Recognizing Gokko Land’s potential, we helped our client tap into Vietnam market, from research and consultancy to seamless content translation, effective game UI design, captivating in-game voices, and even game tryout events. Gokko World has been a huge success in Vietnam with over 600K downloads in Vietnam and be listed in top 10 educational game in Vietnam

Gokko World
Our game localization case reaches 600K downloads

About GIANTY 

GIANTY is a one-stop shop for all your Vietnamese game localization needs. Our team of experienced professionals provides high-quality translation, ensuring accurate and culturally-appropriate translations.

We understand the Vietnamese gaming market and can help you adapt your game for local preferences.Our team has the technical know-how to handle all aspects of game localization, from UI/UX adjustments to formatting.

Ready to take your game to Vietnam?

Contact GIANTY today and let us help you unlock the full potential of the Vietnamese gaming market. Together, we can ensure your game resonates with millions of Vietnamese players!