Silksong Faces Negative Reviews from Chinese Players Due to Translation Issues

What's Happening?

Hollow Knight: Silksong, the sequel to the popular game Hollow Knight, is facing negative reviews from Chinese players due to confusing translations. While the game maintains a 'Mostly Positive' rating on its Steam store page across all languages, the Simplified Chinese reviews are 'Mostly Negative.' Players have expressed dissatisfaction with the translations, describing them as a mix of ancient and modern Chinese, which detracts from the game's intended tone. The translation issues have been compared to reading a Wuxia novel, a genre known for its martial arts and ancient Chinese settings. The team behind Silksong is aware of these issues and is working to improve the translation quality.

Why It's Important?

The translation issues in Silksong highlight the challenges of localizing video games for diverse linguistic audiences. Poor translations can significantly impact player experience and satisfaction, potentially affecting sales and reputation in key markets like China. The negative reviews from Chinese players underscore the importance of investing in quality localization to ensure that the game's narrative and tone are accurately conveyed. This situation serves as a reminder to developers about the critical role of cultural sensitivity and linguistic accuracy in global game releases, which can influence the game's success and acceptance in international markets.

What's Next?

Matthew Griffin, responsible for Silksong's marketing and publishing, has acknowledged the translation issues and stated that improvements are underway. The team is expected to release updated translations in the coming weeks, aiming to address player concerns and improve the game's reception among Chinese audiences. This proactive approach may help mitigate the negative impact on the game's reputation and sales in China. As the gaming industry continues to expand globally, developers may increasingly prioritize localization efforts to ensure their games resonate with diverse audiences, potentially leading to more robust localization teams and processes.