Game Localization into Ukrainian 

What Is Game Localization?

When we talk about game localization, we refer to the adaptation of a video game so it resonates linguistically, culturally and technically with a target audience. It goes beyond mere text translation—it includes menus, user-interface, dialogues, subtitles, voice-overs, cultural adjustments, graphics, even marketing and legal aspects.

In other words, the localization of video games ensures that every aspect—from language to imagery—feels native to the target audience. Unlike standard translation, localization transforms a global product into something that fits local expectations, humour, and culture.

In the context of the Ukrainian market, this means providing a title with a Ukrainian interface, subtitles (and ideally voice overs, as well as ensuring that names, jokes, and references resonate with Ukrainian culture and identity.

That’s what gives meaning to the phrase game localization meaning—it’s not just text conversion; it’s cultural adaptation that connects a game to its players.

Game Localization vs. Game Translation

It’s important to distinguish game localization translation from basic translation. Translation is only one step in the broader process. While translators focus on linguistic accuracy, localization teams ensure the game feels right to the player in every sense. To put it simply, translation is kind of process of converting words from one language to another while localization is far broader: it comprises translation plus adaptation of content, legal compliance, cultural suitability, functional QA, and more.

For example, jokes, idioms, and cultural references often lose their charm when translated literally. A good localization in games often means rewriting jokes, changing references to make sense in the target culture, adjusting artwork if needed, and more.

A successful localization also involves altering UI layouts to accommodate different lengths of text, accounts for interface design, spacing, and font compatibility—Ukrainian text can be longer than English, which may affect menus and buttons. Even the game localization tools used must support Cyrillic scripts and diacritical marks.

So, when we ask what is game localization or what is localization in video games, the answer is clear: it’s a comprehensive process that merges translation, adaptation, and testing to produce a seamless gaming experience for each region.

Why Localize Your Game into Ukrainian

An Evolving Market

For years, the Ukrainian-speaking gaming community was underserved because the localization market in Ukraine was developing very slowly and lacking specific services. Many titles offered no Ukrainian interface at all, forcing players to choose English or Russian or simply skip playing. Before 2022, most video games localized into Ukrainian were the work of passionate fans. Most of video games localization projects into Ukrainian were completed by enthusiastic volunteers rather than professional studios. Players often had to choose between English, Russian, or skipping the game altogether.

Today, things are different. Ukraine’s population—around 40 million—includes tens of millions of potential players who prefer a Ukrainian interface. The demand is no longer niche; it’s mainstream.

The Shift After 2022

As Russia’s full-scale invasion began, many Ukrainians rejected Russian interfaces entirely. Game publishers started to support Ukraine by adding Ukrainian localization to their titles. When Baldur’s Gate 3 added Ukrainian subtitles, over half of Ukrainian gamers switched to the Ukrainian interface—despite the absence of a voice-over.

Other publishers followed suit: Cyberpunk 2077 introduced Ukrainian subtitles (and dropped Russian localization in the Phantom Liberty expansion), and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 announced Ukrainian localization from launch. More followed, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which also includes localization into Ukrainian.

The most symbolic case is S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, which features full Ukrainian localization and no Russian version at all. Developed by a Ukrainian studio, it forced even Russian fans to play in Ukrainian or English—dispelling myths that “the languages are similar.”

These examples illustrate how localization in video games can influence not only sales but also cultural identity and brand reputation.

Legal Requirements and Reputation

Even beyond gamer preference, Ukrainian legislation mandates that commercially sold products in Ukraine must be available in Ukrainian. While some international companies find workarounds, failing to include Ukrainian support can result in reputational damage—and even fines.

For large publishers, skipping Ukrainian localization of video games is not worth the risk. Beyond compliance, it’s an opportunity to demonstrate respect for Ukrainian culture and win lasting loyalty.

A Modest Investment

For AAA studios, the game localization cost is minimal compared to total development budgets. Even partial localization—such as menus and subtitles—creates a significant impact. For indie developers, there’s strong community support: many volunteers and fans are willing to assist in creating or proofreading Ukrainian versions.

Showing commitment to localization in Ukraine builds trust, strengthens brand reputation, and differentiates your product. For a publisher or developer, offering Ukrainian localization signals respect for local culture and community—and that can translate into stronger sales, loyalty, and visibility.

In short, investing in Ukrainian video games localization is both strategically and financially sound.

The Game Localization Process

Whether you’re localizing a massive RPG or a mobile game localization, the video game localization process follows several key stages:

1. Planning and Scoping
   Define your localization goals, target regions, and language variants. Identify which assets—text, audio, UI, marketing—will be adapted.
2. Asset Preparation
   Extract text strings, audio-assets, UI layouts, graphics and prepare them for translation using professional game localization tools that manage version control and context.
3. Translation and Adaptation
   Linguists translate text while adapting idioms and jokes, rewriting cultural references, adapting UI/UX to Ukrainian context. This stage defines the voice and emotional tone of the game. This is the core of localization in video games.
4. Implementation
   Integrate translated content, UI adaptations, audio recordings (if any) back into the game build. Adjust layouts to handle longer Ukrainian text and ensure all characters display correctly.
5. Localization QA and Testing
   As part of game localization testing, the QA team reviews linguistic and functional aspects—checking for truncations, overlapping text, broken UI elements, or untranslated strings as well as audio-sync, cultural suitability, compatibility and regression.
6. Launch and Maintenance
   After release, monitor player feedback and local reviews. Regular updates, patches, and new content often require continued localization support.

This process applies equally to console, PC, and mobile game localization, but you must also consider app store metadata, in-game monetization terms, platform constraints (iOS/Android), and smaller teams/pipelines. In each case, proper planning and expert testing ensure a polished product.

Key Challenges in Game Localization

While the localization in video games industry is expanding rapidly, localizing into Ukrainian brings unique challenges:

• Voice-Over Costs: Full audio localization can be expensive. Subtitles and Ukrainian UI can become a cost-effective compromise for smaller developers.
• Cultural Adaptation: Some references that work in Western markets may not resonate (or even may offend) in Ukrainian culture. There’s also the matter of historical/political sensitivity (especially given the context of Russian invasion of Ukraine).
• Text length and UI adaptation: Ukrainian text may expand by up to 20–30% compared to English, which can cause UI issues if not handled properly. Good game localization tools can help handle string length, placeholders, variable text, RTL/LTR issues.
• Testing Complexity: Proper game localization testing requires specific linguistic, functional, and visual UI/UX verification across multiple platforms.
• Legal Compliance: Language law in Ukraine adds an extra layer of responsibility for publishers selling games in the local market.
• Maintaining updates/patches: After a game launches, new patches, DLCs or expansions often require new localization work and specific services, so the localization workflow must be scalable.
• Choosing the right vendor: The Ukrainian locale is still emerging, so finding vendors with both gaming experience and Ukrainian language expertise is vital.

These challenges highlight the importance of working with experienced vendors who understand both the gaming industry and the Ukrainian language environment.

Game Localization Examples

Let’s look at several video game localization examples that demonstrate how the industry is evolving:

• Baldur’s Gate 3: When Ukrainian subtitles were introduced, half of Ukrainian gamers switched to the Ukrainian interface—even though it was only subtitles and not full voice-over.
• Cyberpunk 2077 with thePhantom Liberty expansion: Included Ukrainian subtitles and notably omitted Russian localization in the expansion. A clear market-signal.
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of : Developed by a Ukrainian studio, this AAA game offers full Ukrainian localization and no Russian support at all—even Russian-speaking fans had to play in Ukrainian or English. It highlights the maturity of the Ukrainian localization market.
• Minecraft: When Mojang added a Ukrainian interface, the reaction among young players and parents was overwhelmingly positive.
• Medieval Dynasty: By including a Ukrainian interface, this indie title gained visibility and goodwill among local gamers.

Each example underscores the strategic importance of localization video game projects. A localized interface isn’t just a courtesy—it’s a growth driver.

Tips for Successful Game Localization

Here are best practices to ensure a smooth and effective game localization project:

1. Start Localization Early: Plan for it from the initial development phase. It’s easier (and cheaper) to design with localization in mind than to retrofit later.
2. Prioritize Key Content: If budget is limited, focus first on the UI, tutorials, and subtitles before expanding into voice-overs or marketing assets.
3. Use Reliable Tools: Consider using modern game localization tools and platforms that handle string extraction, version control, context tracking, and QA/test pipelines. This ensures smooth localization process and integration.
4. Engage Native Linguists: Always work with native Ukrainian speakers who understand gaming terminology and tone. Especially true for UI/UX text and voice talent. This ensures natural tone and cultural authenticity.
5. Test Thoroughly: As part of video games localization, never skip QA; language strings may look fine in isolation but break UI, overlap text, mis-align on consoles or mobile—it can ruin immersion.
6. Plan for Updates: Build your pipeline so future patches/DLCs/customers are handled efficiently. Avoid a “one-time” localization mindset.
7. Localize Marketing Assets: Game trailers, store descriptions, and community posts should also be localized for full impact.
8. Monitor and Update: Track how Ukrainian-speaking gamers react, gather feedback on translation/voice quality, and act on it. Positive responsiveness builds brand loyalty.
9. Highlight Your Localization: Promote the availability of Ukrainian in store listings, social media, local partner channels. The Ukrainian community will respond positively.

Whether it’s for a AAA title or a mobile game localization, these practices ensure your game feels authentic and polished.

Why Choose Technolex for Your Ukrainian Game Localization

At Technolex, we specialize in localization of video games for Eastern European and global markets. Our team combines linguistic expertise with hands-on industry experience, offering tailored solutions for every project size—from indie releases to large-scale AAA productions.

We handle every aspect of the video games localization pipeline:

• professional translation and adaptation by native Ukrainian linguists,
• full game localization testing,
• high-quality voice-over production,
• integration support and post-launch updates.

Technolex has participated in the localization of top video games for major publishers. Our company’s portfolio includes:

• Hogwarts Legacy
• Cyberpunk
• Baldur’s Gate (all parts)
• Poker 888
• Nintendo titles
• Minecraft, Governor of Poker 2, Dance Central (Xbox)
• EA Lord of Ultima, EA Command & Conquer
• MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries (Piranha Games)
• PokerStars, PAC-MAN, Forza Motorsport, EVE Online

Currently, we are working with Krafton on localization for Dinkum and inZOI, providing English to Russian translation and QA.

In total, we have localized over 100,000 words for games and completed over 13,000 translation projects in 2023 alone, amounting to 30 million words across industries.

Even beyond commercial work, Technolex linguists volunteered to help localize several games into Ukrainian in 2022–2023—because passion for gaming and language runs deep in our team.

By partnering with Technolex, you gain a team that understands both the video game localization process and the cultural nuances of Ukrainian audiences. We provide the required services and help ensure your game is compliant with local law, linguistically accurate, culturally authentic, and ready to win over players in a rapidly growing market.

Final Thoughts

As the Ukrainian gaming community continues to expand, the importance of Ukrainian localization becomes increasingly evident. For developers and publishers, offering localized content is more than a gesture—it’s a strategic move to engage a passionate, loyal audience. They recognize that it really means connecting emotionally with players through language and culture.

At Technolex, we’re proud to help shape this future. Our bilingual team brings together linguistic skills, technical expertise, and a shared love of gaming.

Whether you’re exploring what is video game localization, estimating game localization cost, or seeking professional guidance through the localization in video games process, Technolex can help you deliver a product that truly speaks to every player.