Game localization has traditionally been a time-consuming and expensive process. Manual translation work often requires weeks of coordination with external services. AI language models now provide developers with powerful tools to streamline this workflow while they maintain quality and reduce costs.

This guide demonstrates how to set up automated AI-powered translation for your Unreal Engine project using the AI Localization Automator plugin . The plugin turns hours of manual work into minutes of automated processing.

Why AI-Powered Localization?

Modern AI translation offers several advantages over traditional methods:

  • Speed: Translate hundreds of text entries in minutes rather than days
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Significantly reduce translation costs, especially for indie developers
  • Consistency: Maintain consistent terminology and style across your entire project
  • Iteration-Friendly: Quick turnaround allows for rapid prototyping and testing
  • Multiple Providers: Choose from various AI services based on quality, cost, and privacy needs

Prerequisites

Before you start automated translation, ensure you have:

  • Localizable text content in your project (using FText in C++ or Text properties in Blueprints)
  • A configured localization target with gathered source text
  • At least one target language added to your localization target
  • Access to an AI translation service
  • The AI Localization Automator plugin installed

New to Unreal Engine localization? Click here for setup basics

If you’re unfamiliar with making text localizable in UE, the fundamental steps are:

  1. Use FText for localizable content - Only FText (Text in Blueprints) can be localized
  2. Mark text as localizable - Enable the “Localize” checkbox in text properties
  3. Create localization targets - Set up targets in the Localization Dashboard
  4. Gather source text - Use the “Gather Text” process to discover localizable content
  5. Add target languages - Specify which languages you want to translate to

For detailed setup instructions, see the Localization Setup Guide .

Setting Up AI Translation

Step 1: Access the AI Translation Manager

The AI Localization Automator plugin integrates directly with Unreal Engine’s Localization Dashboard. You’ll find AI translation options in your localization target’s toolbar.

  1. Open Tools → Localization Dashboard
  2. Select your localization target
  3. Click the “AI Translate” button in the toolbar

AI Translate Button

Step 2: Choose Your AI Provider

The plugin supports multiple AI providers, each with different advantages for your project needs:

Local AI (Ollama)

  • Complete privacy - data never leaves your machine
  • No API costs or usage limits
  • Works offline once models are downloaded
  • Requires local setup and capable hardware

Cloud Providers

  • OpenAI: Consistently high quality, extensive model selection
  • Anthropic Claude: Excellent for creative and narrative content
  • DeepSeek: Cost-effective option with good quality
  • Google Gemini: Strong multilingual support with competitive pricing

Provider Selection

Step 3: Configure Your Translation Service

Configuration varies by provider but typically includes:

For Cloud Services:

  • API Key for authentication
  • Model selection (newer models generally offer better quality)
  • Temperature settings (0.3 recommended for consistent translations)
  • Request timeout and retry settings

For Local AI:

  • Base URL (typically http://localhost:11434 for Ollama)
  • Model name (e.g., “llama3.2”)
  • Local processing parameters

Ollama Settings

OpenAI Settings

For detailed configuration options for each provider, see the Translation Providers Guide .

Step 4: Process Your Translations

With configuration complete, the automated translation process becomes straightforward:

  1. Review discovered content - The system automatically finds all localizable text
  2. Start processing - Click “Start Translation” to initiate batch translation
  3. Monitor progress - Watch real-time updates as translations complete
  4. Save results - Click “Save Translations” to commit successful translations

The entire process typically completes in minutes for projects with hundreds of text entries.

Completing the Localization Pipeline

After AI translation, you need to complete the standard UE localization workflow:

1. Update Localization System

Return to the Localization Dashboard and run “Gather Text” to update the system with your new translations.

2. Compile Translations

Use “Compile Text” to create the binary files your game will actually use.

3. Package Language Support

In Project Settings → Packaging, ensure your target languages are selected for packaging:

Languages to Package

Testing Your Translations

Verify your automated translations using UE’s built-in preview features:

Editor Preview: Set “Preview Game Language” in Editor Preferences → Region & Language

Preview Game Language

UMG Preview: Use the language selector in UMG widget previews

UMG Language Preview

Best Practices

Start Small

Begin with a subset of your content to test provider configuration and quality expectations before you process large batches.

Monitor Quality

Review translations, especially for:

  • Technical terminology specific to your game
  • Cultural references that may need adaptation
  • UI text that must fit within space constraints

Maintain Consistency

Use consistent prompt templates and provider settings across your project to ensure terminology remains uniform.

Version Control Integration

The AI Localization Automator integrates with UE’s standard localization files, which makes it compatible with your existing version control workflow.

The Impact on Game Development

Automated AI translation changes localization from a bottleneck into an enabler:

  • Faster Iteration: Test your game in multiple languages during development
  • Broader Market Access: Cost-effectively target international markets
  • Enhanced Accessibility: Make your game available to global audiences
  • Resource Allocation: Focus human expertise on polish and cultural adaptation rather than initial translation

Key Features of AI Localization Automator

The AI Localization Automator plugin provides:

  • Multiple AI Providers: Choose from OpenAI, Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, or run locally with Ollama
  • Seamless Integration: Built-in integration with Unreal Engine’s Localization Dashboard
  • Batch Processing: Translate hundreds of text entries efficiently with configurable concurrency
  • Smart Retry System: Automatic retry logic with configurable failure thresholds
  • Real-time Progress Tracking: Live progress updates with detailed status information
  • Production Ready: Tested extensively with large-scale localization projects

For complete documentation, visit docs.georgy.dev/ai-localization-automator .

Conclusion

AI-powered localization represents a significant shift in how developers approach international game distribution. The AI Localization Automator automates the translation process while it maintains integration with Unreal Engine’s robust localization system. Developers can focus on creating great games rather than managing complex translation workflows.

Whether you’re an indie developer who wants to expand market reach or a studio that manages large-scale localization projects, automated AI translation provides the tools to make multilingual game development both accessible and efficient.