Nintendo has faced allegations regarding its practice of not crediting certain translators who have contributed to its games. These claims come from various translators who have worked on localizing Nintendo’s titles for a global audience.
This issue of not acknowledging contributors is not new in the gaming industry. Often, freelance workers or employees from secondary firms who have made significant contributions do not see their names in the credits. Nintendo specifically has been reported to credit only its in-house translators, omitting those from external companies, even though all translators involved usually sign a 10-year NDA, further complicating their ability to receive recognition for their work.
The Translator Troubles Don’t End With Nintendo’s In-Game Credits
Translators working with agencies like Localsoft and Keywords often accept that they won’t receive in-game credits. Although this situation is frustrating, it’s a common practice within the industry. Nintendo’s non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) exacerbate the issue by restricting translators from discussing their involvement for up to ten years. This is intended to safeguard Nintendo’s projects, but it also prevents translators from leveraging their work for career advancement.
Signing an NDA with Nintendo means translators can’t mention their work on highly-acclaimed titles like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This limitation affects freelance translators who rely on such accolades to attract new clients. Despite the collective recognition of translation agencies in a game’s credits, the individual contributors remain unacknowledged.
Nintendo’s stringent NDA policies are not limited to translators. Voice actors from Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have also indicated they must adhere to these agreements. This impacts their ability to engage with fans, as they’re restricted from performing voice lines outside the game’s context.
While some companies, like Larian Studios, have taken steps to rectify credit issues—issuing patches to update game credits—Nintendo appears resistant to change. Instances like these highlight the industry’s varying approaches to acknowledging the work of freelancers, contractors, and agency employees.
Nintendo Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Date Founded | September 23, 1889 |
| Headquarters | Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan |
| Parent Company | Nintendo |
| Subsidiaries | The Pokemon Company, Nintendo of America, Retro Studios, Monolith Soft |
| Consoles | Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 2DS, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo GameCube |
| Known For | Pokemon, Mario Kart, Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon |
The pattern of withholding individual credits has broader implications. For example, lack of recognition influences career trajectories for those who worked on major projects under tight NDAs. Meanwhile, the studio’s policy remains unyielding, despite the demonstrated positive impact of inclusive crediting practices in other instances.
Understanding why Nintendo maintains its current stance may involve weighing various considerations. Employee recognition versus corporate secrecy becomes a balancing act, though the scales currently tip heavily towards the latter, to the detriment of hardworking translators and voice actors. The precedent set by companies that acknowledge their contributors offers a glimpse of what the industry could strive for.
