Lionbridge Games’ Top 5 Blogs of 2024

2024 was a milestone year for Lionbridge Games, and for the gaming industry as a whole. Despite post-COVID challenges, the industry has made a cautious return to growth, increasing by 2.1% YoY to reach an estimated $187.7 billion in revenue. Though market growth is slow in comparison to the start of the decade, experts are optimistic about the coming year.

As we move into 2025, it’ll be important to analyze the market and look for opportunity in current trends. We’ve put together a list of our top 5 most popular blogs in 2024 to help reflect on the past year and prepare for the new one.

5. Why Game Marketing is So Hard

Marketing is somewhat of a black box for those who don’t do it for a living. With video game marketing, this is doubly true. Despite being integral to a game’s success, marketing is often the most glossed-over part of the development cycle, being boiled down to “sell game, get profit.” But what actually happens between product development and sales?

This blog removes the mystique and confusion around game marketing by diving into the top 5 reasons why it's so hard, and how to make it easier.

4. The Player of the Future

Gaming is an ever-evolving concept. Advancements in technology and shifts in social climate have changed the way we make, sell, and interact with video games. As players’ habits, priorities, and expectations change, gaming companies must pivot to accommodate them.

This blog explores how the evolution of video game consumption changes our idea of a good player experience, identifying pivotal trends like accessibility, mobile gaming, and monetization practices to help developers keep up with players’ expectations now and in the future.

3. Why Good Games Fail: The Importance of Investing in Player Experience

The games market is increasingly competitive — with so many amazing games out there, making a “good” game simply isn’t enough these days. But what separates a good game from a great one?

This blog discusses the concept of player centricity and its role in a game’s success (spoiler alert: it’s important). Read the blog to see how a bad player experience can ruin an otherwise good game, and why it’s important to invest in crowd testing, player support, and community management.

2. A More Holistic Testing Process: Combining FQA and LQA

There’s no debate that LQA (Language Quality Assurance) and FQA (Functional Quality Assurance) are both crucial parts of the game development process. However, the industry holds a wide range of beliefs when it comes to how game testing should be approached.

In this blog, we make a case for an integrated approach to testing. Read to understand the pitfalls of segmenting the testing process and learn the advantages of consolidating FQA and LQA services under one vendor.

1. From Translation to Culturalization: The Past, Present, and Future of Video Game Localization

Video game localization has a long and colorful history that has resulted in various — and sometimes opposing — methodologies. But no matter what school of thought you belong to, it’s important to recognize the importance of creating a rich, culturally resonant experience for your players.

Read the whitepaper to explore the history of video game localization and how the concept of “culturalization” is changing the way we approach it.

If you enjoyed this read, consider checking out our video on culturalization, where we sit down with some localization experts to learn how they strike a balance between foreign and familiar to help developers deliver high-quality, engaging, and self-aware translations.

Want to learn more, or have a topic you’d like us to discuss? Reach out to get connected with one of our experts today.