Features of Translational Video Game Playback

Abstract

The article explores the specifics of video game translation, with a focus on the localization of the iconic role-playing game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The relevance of the study lies in the rapid development of the gaming industry, its growing cultural influence, and the rising demand for localized products that are not only technically accurate but also culturally appropriate. Game translation, as a form of intermedia communication, requires attention to language, stylistics, context, cultural codes, genre conventions, and audience expectations. The purpose of the article is to analyze the main translation strategies, linguistic and intersemiotic transformations used in the localization process, and to determine the factors affecting the preservation of authenticity in the game environment. The methodology is based on a comparative analysis of the Polish, English, and Ukrainian versions of the game, using linguocultural, functional-semiotic, and pragmatic approaches. The study examines the translation of proper names, archaisms, dialects, folklore elements, humor, profanity, mythologems, and the rendering of character-specific language strategies. It identifies common translation challenges such as conveying Polish realia, preserving allusions to Slavic culture, and adapting character stylistics and registers. Key transformations include transcoding, calquing, generalization, specification, contextual substitution, elimination, compensation, addition, and translator-driven interpretation. The findings conclude that video game translation is an interdisciplinary phenomenon that requires not only linguistic competence but also deep understanding of cultural codes, genre conventions, player experience, and technical constraints. Effective localization plays a decisive role in the commercial success of the project, its reception by users, and its longevity in the media space.