Video Game Localization into Ukrainian

Before 2022, most video games were localized into Ukrainian by amateurs, so Ukrainian gamers could only dream of playing AAA games in their language. This seemed especially unfair, considering that Ukraine is a nation of 40 million people, at least half of whom would prefer a Ukrainian interface.

It took a war to change this. For many gamers, the Russian interface became unbearable, and game publishers expressed their support for Ukraine by adding Ukrainian localization. When Baldur’s Gate 3 received Ukrainian subtitles, half of the Ukrainian gamers switched to Ukrainian. Mind you, it was just subtitles, not full localization with voice-over. Then came Cyberpunk 2077 with Ukrainian subtitles (and no Russian localization in the Phantom Liberty expansion), followed by more games supporting Ukrainian. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is another AAA game that includes Ukrainian localization.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl has full Ukrainian localization and no Russian at all, but this is largely because it was developed by a Ukrainian company. As a result, even Russian fans had to play in Ukrainian or English. It was amusing to see them shouting, “I don’t understand anything!”—effectively debunking the propaganda claim that “the languages are similar.”

Many smaller games also now support Ukrainian. For example, my daughter was delighted when the Minecraft interface switched from English to Ukrainian. Medieval Dynasty was my choice, too, because of its Ukrainian interface.

Ukrainian gamers want games in Ukrainian. When a game lacks a Ukrainian interface, they have three choices: play in English, play in Russian, or not play at all. But for many, playing in Russian is a big “no-no” and an emotional trigger, while not everyone knows English well enough. So…

Apart from that, Ukrainian law requires that if you sell anything in Ukraine, it must be available in the Ukrainian language. Yes, you can be fined for not following this law. While some companies find ways to circumvent it, they should consider the impact on their reputation. If you’re developing an AAA game with a large audience, you risk facing a backlash that could even attract government attention.

Of course, localizing a game into Ukrainian requires a budget. However, for an AAA game, the cost is relatively small compared to the overall development budget. Partial localization (e.g., subtitles without voice-over) is an option. If you’re a small publisher, volunteers might be a solution, as there are many enthusiasts willing to contribute. No one will judge you if the Ukrainian localization isn’t perfect due to budget restrictions. But please, do it.