Game Localization Lead Japanese

WHO WE ARE

2K is headquartered in Novato California and is a wholly owned label of Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). Founded in 2005 2K Games is a global video game company publishing titles developed by some of the most influential game development studios in the world. Our studios responsible for developing 2Ks portfolio of world-class games across multiple platforms include Visual Concepts Firaxis Hangar 13 CatDaddy Cloud Chamber 31st Union HB Studios and 2K SportsLab. Our portfolio of titles is expanding due to our global strategic plan building and acquiring exciting studios whose content continues to inspire all of us! 2K publishes titles in todays most popular gaming genres including sports shooters action role-playing strategy casual and family entertainment.

Our team of engineers marketers artists writers data scientists producers thinkers and doers are the professional publishing stewards of 2Ks portfolio currently includes several AAA sports and entertainment brands including global powerhouse NBA 2K renowned BioShock Borderlands Mafia Sid Meiers Civilization and XCOM brands; popular WWE 2K and WWE SuperCard franchises TopSpin 2K25 as well as the critically and commercially acclaimed PGA TOUR 2K

At 2K we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive work environment which means encouraging our teams to Come as You Are and do your best work! We encourage ALL applicants to explore our global positions even if they dont meet every requirement for the role. If youre interested in the job and think you have what it takes to work at 2K we encourage you to apply!

As an equal opportunity employer we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process to perform their essential job functions and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need reasonable accommodation.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Own the localization strategy quality bar and final sign-off for Japanese content across all 2K titles
• Review and edit localized content (in-game text UI scripts VO) for tone clarity fluency and cultural relevance
• Develop maintain and enforce glossaries style guides and cultural content policies for the Japanese market
• Select suitable fonts for the LANGUAGE and work with stakeholders that any font related issues are solved in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with LQA team on linguistic bugs
• Work with and support age-rating team as necessary.
• Collaborate with regional marketing team for marketing terminology tag-lines metadata and review MKTG texts as necessary.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teamslocalization producers embedded LQA marketing publishing and devto guide language decisions and alignment
• Serve as the main linguistic escalation point for Japanese-related bugs tone disputes or QA challenges
• Supervise and provide feedback to entry- and mid-level linguists or vendors working on Japanese content
• Consult with game studios and content owners on Japan age rating requirements terminology usage and visual/language compliance
• Lead VO casting script review and direct creative sessions during Japanese voiceover production
• Regularly review in-development and near-final builds to audit for tone consistency and cultural resonance
• Recommend and help implement process improvements that improve quality reduce error rates or optimize turnaround time for Japanese localization
• Participate in Global Loc 2.0 initiatives working with senior leadership to shape evolving localization standards practices and tooling
  

REQUIREMENTS

• 46 years of professional localization experience in games tech or entertainment
• Native fluency in Japanese with demonstrated mastery of tone grammar and regional nuance
• Advanced English fluency (written and spoken); capable of representing language decisions across global teams
• Proven ability to work independently on complex language projects exercising judgment and creativity in ambiguous or conflicting situations
• Keep up with the gaming and localization trend of the language and region
• Must be a highly engaged gaming enthusiast with extensive gaming/IP knowledge
• Strong working knowledge of platform-holder guidelines naming conventions and brand alignment principles
• Support localization manager with various tasks
• Comfortable overseeing or mentoring junior linguists and freelance vendors
• Familiarity with localization tools (e.g. CAT tools translation memory systems XLOC JIRA CMS)
• Deep understanding of Japanese culture media and the Japanese-speaking gaming audience
• Experience with VO scripting dubbing production and linguistic performance direction is a plus
• Bachelors degree in translation linguistics media or related field preferred
  

Why Join Us

As a Game Localization Lead Japanese you will directly shape how our players in Japanese regions experience our games. Youll own language strategy guide voice and tone across titles and play a key role in 2Ks broader effort to deliver best-in-class localized content through a modern embedded and scalable localization model.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews and when emailing only use accounts.
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