This frequency of English localization issues is unacceptable

[Tsukino]

The translations have been like this as far back as HW because of how the english script is written. Its spoken in an old english style while JP and other languages are translated more straightforward. IMO we get the better experience and the scripts are still the same overall, just spoken slightly different due to the old english style.

There's more cultural nuance to this than I think gets discussed very often.

There is just as much uncommon, unusual, and archaic speech in the Japanese script. It's all over the place, and different characters and races/species use different forms of Japanese that are all not used in real life in Japan today. However, all of this vocabulary and these speech patterns are commonly found in pop culture media scripts, most notably in video games. So the difference is not in the English scripts using more antiquated English than the Japanese scripts do antiquated Japanese, but in the average exposure the audience has to those versions of the languages.

[Fawkes]

Is it possible the EN localization team has some kind of hidden hatred for the players? Are they purposely giving us a worse experience?

This has been my assumption since the Mug tooltip.

[Lunalepsy]

They're getting lazy!

[Rulakir]

Is it possible the EN localization team has some kind of hidden hatred for the players? Are they purposely giving us a worse experience?

I don't think it has anything to do with the players, but I am starting to question if perhaps localization has bias when it comes to certain characters or story elements. I think they're managing to fly under the radar by giving the vaguest, passable translation possible while stripping the material of its intended meaning.

Also, in regards to other comments, I don't mind the old English. I mind when context is removed or dialog is completely rewritten to something not even remotely resembling the original text. It's not "hand-holding" to want to know details that are clearly laid out in JP (or other languages in general). I don't feel like I, as an EN player, am getting the full story and I consider that a problem. Getting the gist of something is a poor substitute, especially when outside of a few exceptions there's no reason why we're not having the same experience as everyone else. As several EU players have noted, it's even made discussing the game with people who play with other localizations difficult.

[Graeham]

Ok I understand now. Because of localization problem translating from German to Japanese the story is wrong. So how do we get German story to replace incorrect Japanese one?

Does this change whether Garlemald loses the war? I would like to see version where they win.

[Necrotica]

Ok I understand now. Because of localization problem translating from German to Japanese the story is wrong. So how do we get German story to replace incorrect Japanese one?

Does this change whether Garlemald loses the war? I would like to see version where they win.

Me too buddy. Me too.

[MeeDeggiThePunisher]

Has anyone here actually worked in localization/translating in some form of media?

I have, and this is a pretty frustrating topic to read whiteout me having one of these moments:

I don't have to be a brain surgeon to know they don't make the incision in the foot.

[DarthXelion]

Something to point out. The english localization since ARR has been this way. It always has been for one reason. The devs know english players like to have more intrigue and mystery in their story so the characters are written far more obtuse. Japanese players found out about this and said it is REALLY REALLY cool. But also felt they got a dumbed down version (Citation needed its been a long time since I remembered what happened) Because the english players got all this mystery and intrigue. For example in ARR middy in japanese states he is testing us to see if we truly are worthy of hydaelyns blessing. But in English he is far more cryptic about what his goal is and comes off as an antagonist. It has always been this way and a vast majority of people REALLY like it. so it seems kind of dumb to complain about the localization. Don't fix what isn't broken.

[Fawkes]

Because the english players got all this mystery and intrigue. For example in ARR middy in japanese states he is testing us to see if we truly are worthy of hydaelyns blessing. But in English he is far more cryptic about what his goal is and comes off as an antagonist. It has always been this way and a vast majority of people REALLY like it.

I remember a lot of people complaining when they found out midgardsormr's dialogue was so different.

And I strongly disagree that a lot of people like it. A lot of people have no other option, or don't even know about the differences. And those that do speak other languages usually don't seem to prefer the english version.

[Tama-Kanzashi]

Something to point out. The english localization since ARR has been this way. It always has been for one reason. The devs know english players like to have more intrigue and mystery in their story so the characters are written far more obtuse. Japanese players found out about this and said it is REALLY REALLY cool. But also felt they got a dumbed down version (Citation needed its been a long time since I remembered what happened) Because the english players got all this mystery and intrigue. For example in ARR middy in japanese states he is testing us to see if we truly are worthy of hydaelyns blessing. But in English he is far more cryptic about what his goal is and comes off as an antagonist. It has always been this way and a vast majority of people REALLY like it. so it seems kind of dumb to complain about the localization. Don't fix what isn't broken.

I don't know what to tell you, but first of all if you make claims about the japanese players liking the EN localization so much, you need to back that up with a source otherwise it is just "trust me bro".

And also, with how many players I have met who are very, very dissatisfied with the EN localization because it just omits important information (especially lately in EW) and tries to push you towards one character and away from others, I am not sure I want to believe that your claim that the "vast majority REALLY likes it" is true.
I have been busy in the past weeks helping others with re-translated dialogue from DE where a lot of the information is intact, and doing so feels like injecting poison into all my organs since it just seems very, very unfair that a large percentage of the playerbase does not get all the information that should get conveyed through the ingame text.
And also, being "cryptic" and "mysterious" is no excuse to just remove things and replace them with flowery descriptions.

I don't want to say that other language versions are perfect, far from it. But at least this time around EN really got the filthy end of the stick.