Gacha Fever Localization: What You Can Learn

We recently had the pleasure of working with Milkshake Games, to localize their amazing game Gacha Fever. Why the pleasure? Simple, not only because they are amazing individuals, but also, because they approached localization perfectly, allowing for a smooth, fast and successful project.

Here’s what you can learn as a developer, from Milkshake Games.

Choose Languages Based on Tangible Data

Milkshake Games didn’t choose which languages to localize into based on guesswork but, they instead conducted research and used data to make the best decision possible.

• Japanese: They noticed promising sales in Japan even without localization, which showed the market had great potential.
• German: After a DIY localization attempt that failed and a subsequent demand from players, they decided to come to us. This proved to be a great decision and the localization showed players that their feedback was valued, and encouraged more support for the game.
• Brazilian Portuguese: Extensive research and data showed this market had a huge potential. Adding this language was a strategic way to reach more players and diversify their audience further.

By combining data with player feedback, they focused on the right markets and avoided wasting time and money. You can also do your own market research, completely DIY.

If you want to replicate this approach, start with the signals you already have: which countries show up in your sales and wishlist data, which languages appear in your reviews and community posts, and where players are asking for a translation outright. Sales in a market before localization are one of the strongest indicators you’ll find — if players are buying your game in a language they don’t fully understand, a localized version removes the last barrier between them and the experience. Player requests are just as telling: a demand for a language is an audience announcing itself.

Preparation

The developers prepared carefully before handing the project the us, which made the whole process much easier.

• Organized Text: They put all the game’s text into one spreadsheet. This made the process easier and ensured nothing was missed. Having everything in one place saved time and reduced errors.
• Adjusted Fonts and Layouts: They updated their game to handle different languages. For example, they added special characters for Japanese and resized text boxes to fit longer translations.
• Tested the Game: Before passing the text to us, they verified everything in the game to make sure it was ready for localization.

Without their efforts, the localization process wouldn’t have been as smooth as it was!

This kind of preparation is essentially a lightweight localization kit: the source text gathered in one organized place, a UI that can absorb longer strings and new character sets, and a build that has been checked before handoff. Every hour spent on this stage saves several down the line, because the localization team can work through the text without stopping to ask what goes where — and you don’t have to rebuild your menus after the translations come back.

Hired Professionals

They had previously tried to do the German localization by themselves, but as expected, it lacked quality. That is the reason why they chose to go with a professional localization provider. This not only significantly bettered the quality of the localization but resulted in a smoother process.

• Better Translations: We ensured the text fitted the language and culture. This means the game doesn’t just read well but feels natural to players in each region.
• Faster Results: Milkshake Games was impressed by how quickly we handled the project. Opting for a professional localization provider saved them time and let them focus on other tasks.
• Improved Player Experience: The localization helped create a polished product that players appreciated, boosting player satisfaction and engagement.

This decision let them focus on what they are amazing at, which is making games, trusting us to handle the rest. The final product was far better than what they could have achieved on their own.

It’s worth spelling out what a professional provider actually adds. Beyond native-level fluency, you get a structured process: translation, editing, and proofreading as separate steps, a glossary that keeps terminology consistent, and a team that asks questions when a string is ambiguous instead of guessing. DIY localization typically skips all of that — which is exactly why it tends to read fine to the developer and awkward to the players it was meant for.

Leveraged the community

Communities can be a very valuable tool, providing feedback and validation. This is the reason why Milkshake Games decided to leverage their community.

• Feedback on Features: While localization was the main focus, involving the community helped Milkshake Games improve smaller details that made the game better overall.
• Validation: The lack of complaints about the localization showed it worked well. No news is good news in this case, as players didn’t find anything to criticize.

While the community’s role was small, it helped improve the final product. Their experience shows that even a little player input can be valuable. Engaging with players also builds trust and loyalty.

The Results

Localization proved to be a game changer for Gacha Fever, resulting in:

• Higher Sales: Localized regions like Japan and Germany saw big increases in sales. Players were more likely to buy and recommend the game when it was available in their language.
• Happy Players: Players in those regions appreciated the updates and supported the game more. Positive feedback from players showed the effort was worth it.
• Improved Reputation: By localizing, Milkshake Games showed they cared about their players. This improved their reputation in the gaming community which will come in handy for future projects!

What’s even more impressive is that these results came without any marketing campaign. Milkshake Games showed that localization alone can boost success in the right markets. We all agree, marketing is important, but it proved that it’s not a reason to delay localization. Players will notice and support quality efforts, even without heavy promotion. Milkshake Games’ success with Gacha Fever is a textbook example for other developers. You can consider it as the go-to approach for successful localization. Follow these steps and you can be sure that the results will come:

1. Research to find the right markets.
2. Prepare well to make localization smoother.
3. Hire professionals for quality work.
4. Listen to the community for extra help.

If you’re an indie developer wondering if localization is worth it, Milkshake Games’ story gives a clear answer: it absolutely is.

How Can You Apply This to Your Own Game?

You don’t need a big budget to follow the same playbook — you need the same discipline. Here’s what the four steps look like in practice:

1. Research first. Check your store analytics, wishlists, and community channels before choosing languages. Let evidence, not assumptions, decide where your localization budget goes.
2. Prepare the handoff. Gather every piece of in-game text into one organized file, make sure your fonts and text boxes can handle other languages, and test the build before sending anything out.
3. Go professional where quality shows. Story, dialogue, and store pages are where players judge you. If a DIY attempt already exists, treat it as a draft rather than a final product.
4. Keep the community in the loop. Tell players a localization is coming, and listen after launch. Silence about the translation usually means it works; specific complaints tell you exactly what to fix.

None of these steps require specialist knowledge — only the willingness to treat localization as part of development rather than an afterthought. That mindset is the real lesson of this project, and it’s available to any team, of any size.