This frequency of English localization issues is unacceptable

[Ransu]

No.
I just want what I read in the english text matches with what I hear/understand from (in my case) the JP audio.
I should not need to do mental gymnastic deciphering the missing context from one of the language.
It's frustrating when you want to be immersed with the story.

Then play with JP text? I've played through the game in both JP and EN languages and the nuances in the story are minor. 1:1 translations are impossible, especially with style of English they use for the localization.

[einschwartz]

Then play with JP text? I've played through the game in both JP and EN languages and the nuances in the story are minor. 1:1 translations are impossible, especially with style of English they use for the localization.

I cannot read JP text as well as I understand the audio. I know a few kanjis but will definitely be lost on more serious or heavy-plot points where non-common words are used.
Yes, I know 1:1 translation is impossible. I never rely or expect a direct translation.

*I'm self taught. I listen to JP audio drama CD a lot but not much on reading / writing lol

[MimiParmentier]

(Cont'd)

Like, let's take a concrete example, Dark Knight lv70.

"Pourquoi lutter? La seule issue du combat est la mort... Toujours plus de séparation, de tristesse... Vous pouvez endurer la douleur et combattre pour protéger les autres... Mais vous savez que quoi qu'il arrive, vous les perdez un par un..." ("Why struggle? The only outcome of battle is death... Always more separation, more sorrow... You can endure pain and fight to protect others, but you know whatever happens, you lose them one by one...")

vs

"Woe betide the man who stands opposed to the Weapon of Light, for death will be his reward. Death for him, and his kin, and all that he holds dear. Woe betide the man who stands with the Weapon of Light, for death will be his reward. Death for him, and his kin, and all that he holds dear."

One of them is probably closer to the JP text, and is a fairly generic sentiment. The other hits like a sledgehammer to the gut. I know which one I prefer. The dialogue choice is "The path of the Dark Knight is made of suffering and sacrifice."/"You don't know what you're talking about!" in FR vs "Justice demands no less."/"I tire of this charade." in EN, which just drips with character. "I am on your side, of course." in FR is "No hard feelings about Whitebrim, eh?" in EN. Fantastic stuff.

So yeah. There's a general stylistic choice in the EN localization to give the text weight and impact and flair. And sometimes that means information gets lost or reframed or presented misleadingly, but not to the extent that the entire plot becomes incomprehensible. Attributing this to some kind of translator conspiracy strikes me as more than a little far-fetched.

And remember - AFAB: All Fairies Are nonBinary.

[Rulakir]

One of them is probably closer to the JP text, and is a fairly generic sentiment. The other hits like a sledgehammer to the gut. I know which one I prefer.

I disagree, I prefer the FR translation.

Ishikawa herself admitted in a March 31, 2022 Famitsu interview that her initial run of Endwalker was handed over two days before whatever her deadline was.

Just going to add another interview to this:

It’s really dense in volume so I’m having doubts on whether I can finish them and meet the schedule deadline, so I’m working hard here to make sure it’s delivered on time. (laughs)

We can actually make it work if we wanted to actually prolong the story of Hydaelyn-Zodiark arc, and there’s definitely a lot more places to explore in Eorzea, the world players first started their journey.

I personally am fine with ending the story at around patch 7.0 or 8.0, but I believe the decision to end the story precisely at this timing must have brought out the sense of speed as well, and I hope that, with this decision, it will allow us to able to properly grasp on what what kind of story “FFXIV” we can provide to our players, considering the fact that this expansion will be released in 2021.

Source. Once again, even though this isn't the thread for it, I've never blamed Ishikawa. I think Yoshi-P wanting to rush the conclusion to 6.0 and the disagreements that resulted in a rewrite on top of that she probably did the best she could.

[Jagick]

I disagree, I prefer the FR translation.



Just going to add another interview to this:



Source. Once again, even though this isn't the thread for it, I've never blamed Ishikawa. I think Yoshi-P wanting to rush the conclusion to 6.0 and the disagreements that resulted in a rewrite on top of that she probably did the best she could.

That's how I feel too. Ishikawa writes some amazing stuff. I put this one entirely on the heads of Yoshi and whoever else on the team was calling any shots. She did the best she could with the little time she was given, as well as being told more or less: It ends here, make it work.