Localizing Your Games

Kévin Bernier, Translator

English to French

I am an English to French translator specializing in game localization. With over 11 years of experience in translation and 9 years in games, I have worked on many PC, console and mobile games ranging from AAAs to indies.Though I have a soft spot for RPGs and strategy games, I have translated titles in nearly every genre. Life sims, platformers, action-adventure, puzzle games, gachas, VR and much more. You can browse my portfolio to have a look at some of my work.On top of raw game localization, I also frequently work on gaming-related projects. This includes marketing and promotional campaigns for upcoming titles, live ops as well as recurring content for a leading streaming platform.Need your game translated into French? Contact me, and together we'll get started.

Portfolio

Here is a small sample of the games I helped translate. As the #TranslatorsInTheCredits movement keeps gaining traction, I appear in the credits of all of these titles, with some listed on MobyGames. You can touch or hover on any image to display the cursory details of each project. If you would like to know more about a specific game, please feel free to reach out.

About

A quick glance

Games I love

What better way to know me than to know the games I love?

I was, and remain, particularly fond of JRPGs. Star Ocean, Trails in the Sky, The Legend of Dragoon, and of course, FINAL FANTASY (with FF9 being my personal favorite). And I spent entirely too much time playing strategy games, with Warcraft III being the main culprit.
I also enjoy stealth games a great deal, and was always a fan of the Splinter Cell series. Other, more recent entries include Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, Mark of the Ninja and Aragami.
Indie games in general have held a special spot in my heart in recent years. Hollow Knight, Celeste, Pyre and SOMA stand among the games which absolutely blew me away.

(Localization) Philosophy

Perspectives on translation

I believe game localization is about so much more than just rendering words and their meaning from one language to another.

As a translator, I must identify and convey every bit of nuance the writers injected into their text. I must be both precise and accurate. I must preserve the original message and figure out what shape it should take in my native tongue. I must ask too many questions rather than too few. I must be curious and eager to learn. Above all, I must make my work invisible.
A translation is like a bridge: if it is well-made, countless people will enjoy it every day without even thinking it is there. If it is flawed, however, it becomes obvious. Glaring, even. A good translation remains unseen, ss(though never unrecognized)mm(#TranslatorsInTheCredits)ee.

Values

It matters

I value keeping an open line of communication and the human factor. I avoid automated, PM-free assignment systems and strongly favor genuine interactions.
I value working in a team environment. A translation can never have too many eyes on it, and can often be improved by another's perspective.
I value the work that goes into making games. I believe in games as an art form, and consider it a great honor to have the chance to be a part of it.





If anything written above resonates with you, get in touch. I'd be happy to hear from you.

Contact

Do you have a game you wish to bring to the French-speaking market, big or small? Get in touch, and together we'll make it happen.

©2024, Kévin Bernier. Character design by Hana Pham. All game visuals and images featured on this website are the legal and intellectual property of their respective owners.