This video does an alright job at explaining why the Localization is so different

[Striker44]

What's important to consider is that the English version is not a "translation" or "localization" of the Japanese version. French and German do localizations of the Japanese version. The English version is created alongside the Japanese version and gets the approval of the Japanese team.

Personally, I love the English version, and have always been satisfied throughout the time MC Koji-Fox was in charge of it. It's humorous, it's serious when it needs to be, and it tells a solid story. In all seriousness, just sit back and enjoy the game. Some people I think get frustrated because they are taking a form of entertainment way too seriously.

[jameseoakes]

What's important to consider is that the English version is not a "translation" or "localization" of the Japanese version. French and German do localizations of the Japanese version. The English version is created alongside the Japanese version and gets the approval of the Japanese team.

Personally, I love the English version, and have always been satisfied throughout the time MC Koji-Fox was in charge of it. It's humorous, it's serious when it needs to be, and it tells a solid story. In all seriousness, just sit back and enjoy the game. Some people I think get frustrated because they are taking a form of entertainment way too seriously.

Is that still the case, that was what was going on with Koji he was part of the development team but he seems to have gone completely to 16 leaving the English team to be in much the same way as the French and German teams just one who want to tell a different story

[Boblawblah]

All the proof of why the English translation is bad always includes "nuance", yes, that's the point of localization, cultures are different, and so a nuanced approach is necessary.

I love the English version, it's amazing really, I haven't seen a single line that I thought "Oh, that's definitely just directly ripped from the Japanese" which is saying something, so many Japanese games do almost a direct 1 to 1 translation and it's super awkward and stilted. If that's because the English localization is developed alongside the Japanese, then keep doing what you're doing. It's wonderful

[Raoabolic]

That's because the other two localization teams felt using the more 1:1 was more suitable for their target audiences. Meanwhile the English team chose a style that made the localization be aimed at North America

So the "localizers" think that NA is too immature and needs "liberties" thrown into the story to make it more palatable for what the NA team thinks the NA audience can handle? If you frame it like that then the NA localizers must think the NA playerbase can't handle the story without softening it and making pop culture jokes. That worrying at best and insulting at worst, lmao.

[Kazhar]

What's important to consider is that the English version is not a "translation" or "localization" of the Japanese version. French and German do localizations of the Japanese version. The English version is created alongside the Japanese version and gets the approval of the Japanese team.

I know your post is a very popular claim in the ffxiv community but as far as we know, this is incorrect.
Discussed here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxivdiscus...f14s_japanese/

EDIT: I should add that the entire thread and interviews linked there are worth reading, not just the top post which kinda summarises the situation poorly.

[Enkidoh]

Ferne (Michael-Christopher Koji Fox) has been part of the localization/lore writing of the game since 1.0 (he even appears briefly in the 'Making Of' video included with the collector's edition of FFXIV 1.0, although doesn't speak in it or offers any insights sadly) - many of the fundamental story aspects of the game are actually his work, such as the secondary name of the Twelveswood (the Black Shroud), Nald'thal being a twin god with a combined name (just so he could make the "Thal's Balls" joke/cuss, famously admitting "he just loves to swear"), and other things. So it's not like he was suddennly dropped into the project and "changed things" from the "original", the "original" has always had a connection to him.

Really this whole pointless arguement about localization just came about because how at the end of 2.55 Midgardsormr's more maternal aspects got lost in translation (figure of speech) and thus resulted in him becoming more like something of a surly bully, and famously how Hauchy's more perverted, even creepy, nature was understandably toned down for Western sensibilities (something Ferne could hardly be faulted for - such things tend to result in higher classifications in some countries).

And now with EW's more controversial story and a certain... character... it's revived the whole "the localization of FFXIV sucks!" arguement for another run around the block. As has been stated, the Japanese version and the English version draw from and influence each other's narrative, the Japanese version is not the "base" version that the English version is merely a pedestrian translation from, the two work hand in glove in writing, which does mean, yes, some minor differences show up, but fundamentally the same story is told.

Also Ferne is still part of the FFXIV team because FFXVI's development is also being handled by it, meaning he's been seconded to FFXVI's localization, so he'll return once XVI is released. And he still did have a very minor part in EW's development - he's the vocalist for the Pandaemonium vocal tracks Hic Svnt Leones and White Stone Black.

[Raoabolic]

Ferne (Michael-Christopher Koji Fox) has been part of the localization/lore writing of the game since 1.0 (he even appears briefly in the 'Making Of' video included with the collector's edition of FFXIV 1.0, although doesn't speak in it or offers any insights sadly)

That's because he was just a grunt back in the day when he wasn't in charge of localization, merely part of the team. It's like seeing a new manager walk into the project and make questionable decisions from time to time until those questionable decisions start piling up and it becomes VERY noticeable in a project. It's another case of slowly boiling the frog, lol.

because how at the end of 2.55 Midgardsormr's more maternal aspects got lost in translation (figure of speech) and thus resulted in him becoming more like something of a surly bully, and famously how Hauchy's more perverted, even creepy, nature was understandably toned down for Western sensibilities (something Ferne could hardly be faulted for - such things tend to result in higher classifications in some countries).

I wonder when Mr. fox took over the localization... :^)

[Lauront]

I know your post is a very popular claim in the ffxiv community but as far as we know, this is incorrect.
Discussed here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxivdiscus...f14s_japanese/

EDIT: I should add that the entire thread and interviews linked there are worth reading, not just the top post which kinda summarises the situation poorly.

And specifically, this comment picks out the relevant parts.

They had a couple more pieces here and here worth reading, particularly the bit re "wiggle" room. There was an older thread on it here for those interested.

[SannaR]

Given averages in scholastic achievement across all English Speakers, I still believe it's a pain they chose EME (Early Modern English) as the dialect for the man.

I'll warrant that it's done purely for flavour, not because this archaic form is more suitable to English Speakers - fluent or native - let alone those with lesser ESL skills.

Whilst I have little issue reading EME, time and time again the complaints on these fora, and in other places, show a significant number of native speakers do have issues with EME.

Taking this idea further, head off into the Localization (sic) forum and look at some of the common complaints about things like "corse" being a mistake. That single word, and how much confusion it causes, is enough to prove these choices were not made with 'more suitability for the target audience' as a reason.



I don't have an isssssue with the beast-tribe-ones having unusal speech mannerisms. yes, yes. They are an adjunct to the story.

English steals from a lot of other places and languages. From my knowledge it's also the only one that has had a major vowel shift to the point that linguists have named it the great vowel shift. Then there is the various reasons why even though the majority of those who founded America were British subjects you have the obvious change in how things are spelled yet are the same word. I.e Color and Colour. Then look at how at least English that makes up the one used in the British Isle and Ireland. You have French, German and a tinge of Scandinavian(whatever survived from the Viking presence). Mixing in with Welsh, Gaelic and a little Latin.

Would you rather want him speak in Transatlantic? Which might not be as bad as the use of EME. I'm just glad they didn't feel the need to go full Chaucer.

[SannaR]

So the "localizers" think that NA is too immature and needs "liberties" thrown into the story to make it more palatable for what the NA team thinks the NA audience can handle? If you frame it like that then the NA localizers must think the NA playerbase can't handle the story without softening it and making pop culture jokes. That worrying at best and insulting at worst, lmao.

Hi have you met Square? It's not the first time the company has dumbed down or softened things for its Western audience. It's how we ended up with Mystic Quest. It's how some of the differences in not only translation but game play difficulty happened in the earlier versions of the franchise. Heck it doesn't even just happen with SquareEnix but a few other Japanese game developers.