BONUS STAGE: START
Japanese ↔ English Localization from Start to Finish
We specialize in Voice Recording, Linguistic Consultation, and Translation & Transcreation services that bring clarity, creativity, and cultural fluency to your game.
SNAPSHOT: CLIENTS
Behind the world’s biggest titles, you’ll find Bonus Stage!
We’ve helped indie gems and AAA blockbusters alike cross borders with native-quality translation, authentic voice casting, and sharp, market-savvy consulting. Whether the goal was global reach or a perfect Japan launch, we’ve been the team behind the scenes making it happen.
You only get one launch.
How Great Games
Get Lost in Translation
Dead Dialogue,
Broken Worldbuilding
Agencies rush your script through burned-out freelancers or machine translation just to hit word count. What comes back? Flat dialogue. Tone-deaf lines. Inconsistent terms that wreck your lore and confuse your players.
Radio Silence
When You Need Answers
Trying to explain your creative vision through two project managers and a timezone gap? Good luck. Miscommunication leads to late changes, bad calls, and localization that feels bolted on, not built in.
Audio Says One Thing,
Text Says Another
Your VO team rewrites in the booth. The script team’s out of the loop. Suddenly, the boss fight has a speech that doesn’t match the subtitles… Or worse, the quest text contradicts the cutscene. Players notice. And they post screenshots.
HOW WE HELP
Clear Communication,
Start to Finish
Our entire team is fluent in both English and Japanese, so nothing gets lost along the way! You get quick answers, smooth handoffs, and zero back-and-forth confusion. No delays. No guesswork. Just localization done right, by actual gamers!
Because great game localization starts with great communication.
You’ll never be handed off to a junior PM or buried in our workflow. Your project is managed by the owners themselves: the same people who built this agency and still stand behind every word we deliver.
Game Localization by Actual Creatives
We don’t just swap words.
Our translators have written scripts, scored cutscenes, and launched games. That creative background means we capture your tone, rewrite jokes that actually land, and localize your world with the same emotional punch — not a watered-down version. Because it’s not just about accuracy. It’s about making your game feel right, and that’s what great game localization does.
WHY BONUS STAGE
A localization partner chosen by dev teams who demand more than just translation
English or Japanese, your game localization is led by native translators, voice actors, and narrative strategists who know Japanese game culture inside and out. We adapt to your team’s pace, tone, and creative vision, delivering nuanced, natural translations that feel like they were written that way from the start.
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years of combined experience0₊
AAA titles Completed0₊
AA & indie titles CompletedThousands of lines recorded in both Japanese and English!
OUR SERVICES
Built to Help Your Game Cross Borders and Succeed!
Because players notice when localization is done right... and when it isn’t. We make sure yours never have to think twice.
JP↔EN Game Translation
Our bilingual writers are gamers and creatives who know how to preserve tone, emotion, and lore. Whether it’s UI, banter, or branching dialogue, we keep your voice consistent and ready for recording.
JP↔EN Casting & Voicework
We’ll help you cast the right talent and manage the entire recording process, from character briefs to final delivery. From tight indie budgets to AAA polish, we’ve got the network to make it happen!
Cultural Consulting
Working on something that includes references to Japan or Japanese culture? In the social media age, ignorance isn’t going to get you off the hook for something being inaccurate or offensive. We’ll help make sure that doesn’t happen!
THE PROCESS
Turning Words
Into Worlds
Game localization requires a balance between speed and accuracy. The Bonus Stage system that ensures translation quality while also fitting smoothly into the pace and workflow of your team.
1
Consultation
We want to know as much about your project as we can to better reflect your vision in the localized language.
2
Translation & Review
Our localization producers will get to work on the translations. Once they’re done, a separate producer will conduct a review and if necessary, discuss re-writes.
3
Script Prep & Audio
If your project requires it, we’ll prepare the translated script, cast the necessary roles, and work with our studio partners to give your project its voice.
4
Delivery & Follow-Up
Even when the work is done, we’re still happy to help. We can provide LQA, facilitate and conduct follow-up recordings, and even assist with acquiring an age rating via the Japanese ratings board, CERO.
VOICE
A Word From Our Clients
FAQ
Your Questions, Answered
Because players notice when localization is done right... and when it isn’t. We make sure yours never have to think twice.
Of course! We’re always happy to discuss how we can work within your budget, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.
The average translation speed for English to Japanese is 2000 words per day, and 4000 characters per day for Japanese to English. Translation speed can vary if the text is particularly niche in some areas, but these figures are good to keep in mind when considering a schedule for the localization process.
For audio projects, timelines can vary, but generally speaking 3000 words (based on an estimated 300 lines of 10 words each) can be delivered within one week.
We will work with you to build a timeline that makes sense for your project, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with any and all questions or concerns.
CERO ratings are required for physical releases and console storefront releases in Japan. If you are planning to release your game only on steam, a CERO rating is not required.
CERO charges different rates for submissions and resubmissions to members as opposed to non-members. Additionally, CERO operates exclusively in Japanese. As CERO members, we can make the rating acquisition process smoother and more affordable.
Our goal is to share your vision with a broader audience. While some things do get lost in translation, our number one priority will always be to stay as faithful and consistent as possible to the tone and vision of the work. We also thrive on accountability, and will run any and all potential changes by you before we commit to them.
Updates are a common part of the game experience now, and continuously updating game text, in addition to DLC and other add-on content, is something we’re very familiar with. Our translation tools help us keep your glossary consistent across all iterations, so get in touch with us to discuss how we could best help see your project through to its finish line. As many times as that takes.
We are always happy to sign client-side Non-Disclosure Agreements if available. Additionally, our corporate policy dictates that we may only discuss information that is publicly available. In fact, we have worked on several projects for which we were not credited, and have never spoken about them as a result. Confidentiality is vital to our work.
Of course! Delivery times could vary based on text volume, but up to 2000 words/4000 characters could be delivered within one day.
We work with trusted studio partners that have extensive experience in dubbing for games, streaming, television, and film. Whatever the requirements for your voiceover, we have the team and resources to make it happen.
Each member of our team is bilingual in Japanese and English. Whichever language you’re more comfortable working in is fine by us.
Absolutely. Bringing localization into the process early makes for a smoother and more considered process.
If you have specific requests for tone and style, we are always happy to oblige and follow any style guides provided to us.
Bonus Stage is a bilingual game localization agency helping developers bring their stories to new players.