How to localize mobile games with ChatGPT: 20 prompts you need to try out

It’s not a surprise that mobile gaming studios are at the top of their popularity now, as they have enough resources to develop and successfully distribute their mobile games globally. To stand out from the competition, small-to-medium-sized game companies need to think outside the box, including localizing their games for different markets.

Using cutting-edge OpenAI technology, you can efficiently streamline and automate your game localization process.

In this article, we will guide you through the steps of in-app and app store game localization with the help of well-designed and tested ChatGPT prompts. Let’s get started!

What is mobile app localization?

If you want your game to succeed in the global market, it’s not enough to create a great game – you also need to make sure it’s appropriately localized for different regions. Therefore, mobile app localization is the process of adapting a mobile app or game to meet the language and cultural requirements of a particular country or region. 

The mobile app localization process includes the following:

• In-app localization:
  • Cultural research
  • Brainstorming new features for new market
  • UX adaptation
  • Translating in-app content
  • Monetization strategy
• App store localization:
  • Translating mobile game store listing
  • Researching keywords for a specific local
  • Localizing store listing creative set
  • Review management in a local language
  • A/B testing of app store listing

These are the main factors you should consider if you want to localize the mobile app or game. However, you need to remember that game localization, at some points, is more complex and has some crucial differences.

Specifications for mobile game localization

While the mobile app and game localization share many similarities, there are also some critical differences between the two processes.

One significant difference between the app and game localization is the content and user experience involved. Mobile apps are typically more utility-based, designed to provide users with specific functionality, whereas mobile games focus on providing entertainment and engagement. As a result, the approach to localization may differ based on the type of content and user experience.

Another difference is the approach to language translation. While the app and game localization involves translating UI and other text elements into the target language, mobile games often include more narrative content, such as in-game dialogue and storylines. As a result, game localization may require a greater focus on narrative and character development in addition to UI elements. 

Additionally, mobile games may require more extensive audio localization than mobile apps, as they may include voice-overs, music, and sound effects. It means that game developers may need to hire local voice actors or musicians to provide audio content in the target language, which can add complexity and cost to the localization process.

Despite these differences, the basic localization process remains the same for mobile apps and mobile games, focusing on adapting content and user experience to meet the language and cultural needs of the target market.

In-game localization with OpenAI ChatGPT

In-game localization requires a deep understanding of the cultural aspect of the new market. Therefore, more than translating in-game content is needed to engage different audiences. Here are 5 essential steps for in-game localization that can be assisted with OpenAI ChatGPT.

1. Cultural research

As an app marketer, it’s vital that you do market research before starting game localization in order to understand the cultural differences in your new target market. ChatGPT can help you speed up this process by providing insights into regional language preferences, idioms, and customs. With OpenAI, you can ensure that your in-game experience is modified appropriately for different regions, considering any cultural references or traditions that may need to be considered. 

Try out these ChatGPT prompts for your market and cultural research:

Hi ChatGPT, can you help me with cultural research for my mobile game localization? Specifically, I’m looking for information on the cultural preferences and expectations of my target market [name of target market] and any local laws or regulations that could impact my game’s content or distribution. Please provide me with insights and resources that would be useful for my mobile game localization project.

Act like a mobile app marketer who needs to do market research for his mobile game. I need to localize my [game category] game that focuses on [the main idea of the game] for [name market] market. Please provide me with cultural market research. 

2. Brainstorming new features for new market

Different regions and cultures have unique gaming preferences; what works in one market may not necessarily work in another. Therefore, it is vital to cater to the preferences and expectations of the target audience in the new market. ChatGPT is one of the best AI-based tools to help app marketers and developers to brainstorm different ideas. This prompt will help you to get a list of other ideas for new features for a specific market:

Act like a mobile app developer who needs to develop a new mobile game feature for his mobile game. Please brainstorm ideas for a new mobile game feature specifically for [name market] market. My game focuses on [the main idea of the game].

3. UX adaptation

User experience is significant for mobile game players. Mobile game UX includes the game’s design, graphics, controls, gameplay mechanics, audio, and overall usability. Thanks to AI tools, like OpenAI or Midjourney, UX adaptation can be made much more quickly. You can ask ChatGPT to assist in designing mobile games that are culturally appropriate for different audiences and provide information on cultural preferences, taboos, and norms.

Use the following ChatGPT prompts to help you out with your mobile game UX localization:

Hi ChatGPT, can you help me with UX localization for my mobile game? Specifically, I’m looking for guidance on how to adapt the game’s design, graphics, controls, and gameplay mechanics to meet the cultural preferences and expectations of [name of the market] market. Could you provide me with insights and resources that would be useful for my mobile game localization project in [name of the country]?

Act like a mobile UX designer who needs to do UX localization for his mobile game. I need to localize my [game category] game that focuses on [the main idea of the game] for [name market] market. Please provide me with UX elements that I need to use for my mobile game in [name market]. 

Act like a mobile UX designer who needs to do UX localization for his mobile game. I need to localize my [game category] game that focuses on [the main idea of the game] for [name market] market. Please provide me with a list of specific [name market] UX elements for my mobile game.

4. Translating in-game content

Translation of mobile in-game content is a critical part of game localization, which is the process of adapting a game to meet the cultural, linguistic, and other requirements of a specific region or country. The translation of mobile in-game content can include various aspects of the game, such as the game’s menus, instructions, dialogues, and other written content. It can also include translating audio and video content used in the game.

The translation process usually involves working with professional translators or translation agencies with game localization expertise. However, now you can do it with ChatGPT and get pretty decent results that need to be reviewed by native speakers. 

Try out these ChatGPT prompts to translate your in-game content:

Hi ChatGPT, can you help me with in-game content translation? Specifically, I need to translate the following content to [targeted language] language for my mobile game that focuses on [the game’s main idea]. Here is the content that needs to be translated: [word/phrase/sentence for translation], [word/phrase/sentence for translation], [word/phrase/sentence for translation].

Please adjust the above translation to the [targeted language] slang that uses [targeted country] people in the age from [targeted age of your mobile game player].

5. Monetization strategy

Localizing the monetization strategy for mobile games requires a deep understanding of the target market, cultural sensitivity, and a willingness to adapt to local preferences and regulations. However, adjusting your mobile game monetization strategy is essential for introducing your game to a new market.

Here is how ChatGPT can assist you with a new monetization strategy:

Hi ChatGPT, I’m a mobile game developer looking to adjust my monetization strategy for my game in [targeted market]. I want to ensure that my game’s payment options, pricing, and promotions are customized to the [targeted market] market and resonate with [targeted market] users. Can you brainstorm some ideas and tips on how I can localize my monetization strategy for [targeted country]?

Act like a mobile app developer that wants to monetize its mobile game that is free to download in [target market]. Please give me a list of 10 ideas I can use to monetize my mobile game to fit my [target market] audience.

App store localization with OpenAI ChatGPT

When it comes to app store localization of your mobile game, it is essential to do keyword research and localize your app store listing according to specific local preferences. Here are some of the most important elements of localizing your game in app stores that OpenAI ChatGPT can help you with.

1. Researching keywords for a specific local

Researching keywords for a specific local market can help improve your mobile game’s visibility and ranking in a particular app store marketplace. Including relevant local keywords in your app store listing is essential so potential users can discover your mobile game.  

Use these ChatGPT prompts to research keywords for your new targeted market:

Act like a mobile app owner. I want to find relevant keywords that I can use to optimize my mobile game in [targeted market] market. Provide me an extensive list of the semantically related [targeted market] keywords to the keyword ‘[keyword]’.

Act like a mobile app marketer that wants to research keywords for [targeted market]. Please provide me with a list of 20 keywords in [targeted language] for my [the name of the game] that focuses on [the main idea of the game].  

Name [amount] keywords that are relevant to the following mobile apps in [targeted market]: [app name 1], [app name 2], [app name 3]. 

2. Translating mobile game store listing

It is not a surprise that app store listings play an important role in app marketing. The app store listing creative set is the first impression that potential users have of your app and can make or break a user’s decision to download it. That is why app marketers need to adjust their app store listing to different languages to reach new markets. 

Here are suggested prompts to try out ChatGPT for localizing your mobile game store listing:

Act like a content writer who needs to write a [short or long] description for the [app category] app on [name of app store] for the [targeted market] market. Write a description with maximum [amount] characters that will include the following keywords and be written in [targeted language] language: [keyword 1], [keyword 2], [keyword 3].  

Act like an app marketer who needs to translate and adjust the meta description of my mobile game. Write a description in [targeted language] with maximum [amount] characters that will include the following keywords: [keyword 1], [keyword 2], [keyword 3]. You can use my English description as a base: [English meta description].  

3. Localizing store listing creative set

Optimizing your app store listing with local and relevant keywords is not enough for localizing your mobile game in a new market. The primary purpose of app store creatives is to provide potential users with a glimpse of what your game looks like and how it works. However, remember that some visual elements and colors can have different meanings in different countries. So, if you want to improve the conversion rate in a specific market, you should localize your creative set. 

ChatGPT can be a handy tool to help you identify local design elements, patterns, and colors for your app. Try the following prompts to brainstorm design ideas:

Act like a mobile designer who needs to localize his mobile game’s creatives for [targeted market] market. Please provide me with a list of design elements that include colors, patterns, popular typography, and relevant shapes for [targeted market] market. Consider that I need to localize my mobile game screenshots and icon. 

Hi ChatGPT! I need to localize my mobile game’s creatives for [targeted market] market. Please provide me with a list of ideas that I should include in my mobile game’s screenshots, icon, video, and featured image, so it is relevant for [targeted market] market. 

4. A/B testing of app store listing

Undoubtedly, A/B testing is an absolute game-changer for any business looking to expand into new markets. Therefore, getting your A/B test framework in place for new locals is crucial for identifying what resonates best with your new targeted audience. Moreover, with the testing framework, you can maximize your revenue potential and adjust your ASO strategy based on data-driven decisions instead of guesswork. 

With an AI-based chatbot, you can brainstorm different A/B testing ideas and get different variations of suggested copies for your app store listing. Try out these prompts for your A/B tests for new locals.

Act like a mobile app marketer who wants to test app store listing elements of its mobile game in [target market] market. Which elements should I A/B test for my mobile game in [targeted market] market and why?

Act like a mobile app marketer that needs to test app store listing elements of its mobile game in [target market] market. Please provide me with 5 test variations of my mobile game [app store element, for example, short description] in [targeted language] language. Here is my primary app store [app store element, for example, short description]: [insert your primary app store listing element, for example, short description]. 

5. Review management in the local language

Monitoring and responding to the app reviews help you keep your mobile users appreciated and rank your game better. The main goal of app review management is to improve user experience and game ratings by addressing user feedback and concerns, identifying and resolving bugs or issues, and providing timely and helpful responses to user reviews.

When it comes to launching a mobile game in a new market, it is essential to consider that you need to manage game reviews in a local language. OpenAI ChatGPT can assist you with this task by translating the reviews and writing the responses. You can experiment with this suggested prompt to see how easily you can manage review management in different locals.

Act like a customer success manager who needs to reply to the app review in [targeted language]. Please translate the following app review to [your language] and respond to this review in [targeted language]. Here is the app review: [insert review]. 

Key takeaways

Localizing a mobile game with ChatGPT is an easy way to take your mobile game to the next level. Although the localization process can be complex and time-consuming, with these 20 provided prompts, you can ensure your game is prepared to be localized and adjusted into any market.

However, remember that ChatGPT can’t do all the work for you. As an app marketer, you still need to decide whether to use or not the suggested insights from OpenAI. Moreover, consider ChatGPT as your assistance that can help you save your time with translation, researching, and brainstorming ideas for the new market. And if someone in your team is conversant in the language spoken by your target demographic, they should be able to review ChatGPT suggestions and translations; this only leads to clearer outcomes when launching a precise localized game experience.