Gamescom 2026: What Developers Really Need from a Localization Partner
Our approach to Gamescom was a bit different this year. Instead of a traditional sales delegation, our Localization Department Manager, Vladimir Kovalenko, attended the event in person. The goal wasn’t just to pitch services, but to gain deeper, strategic insights into the current state of the gaming market and discover what developers and publishers truly need from a localization partner today.
Key takeaways from our discussions on the ground were:
- Beyond standard translation: developers aren’t just looking for vendor support; they need strategic consultation. Many studios default to localization in the top 4–5 standard languages without deep market research into who, how, and why.
- Data-driven localization: today’s market demands more than linguistic accuracy. It requires solid analytics, game sales forecasting, and ROI calculations to ensure localization actually drives global revenue.
- True partnership: clients want a partner who truly understands the mechanics of the game industry, helps avoid hidden pitfalls, and brings meaningful data to the decision-making process.
Huge thanks to everyone who connected with Vladimir Kovalenko in Cologne! We’re excited to turn these market insights into smarter, data-backed solutions for our partners.