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Game localization
into Thai
Interesting facts about Thai
- Thai is spoken by approximately 69 million people worldwide
- One of the most unique features of the Thai language is abugida writing system
- Thai contains 44 consonants, 32 vowels (including diphthongs), and five tones
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Thai users around the world
Thai, or Central Thai, is spoken by approximately 69 million people worldwide. It is the official language of Thailand, but it is also spoken in neighboring countries such as Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
Thai as a language
Thai is the most spoken of over 60 languages of Thailand by both number of native and overall speakers. Most Thais in the northern and the northeastern parts of the country are bilingual speakers of Central Thai and their respective regional dialects. This is because Central Thai is the language of television, education, news reporting, and all forms of media. Because Thai is dominant language, ethnic minorities today are predominantly bilingual, speaking Thai alongside their native language or dialect.
One of the most unique features of the Thai language is its writing system. It is an abugida writing system, meaning that each symbol represents a consonant sound, and vowels are indicated by diacritic marks that are added to the consonants. The script is read from left to right, with no spaces between words. Thai contains 44 consonants, 32 vowels (including diphthongs), and five tones.
Thai in Game Localization
The Thai language has a growing presence in video games, both as a language option for players and as a way for game developers to cater to the Thai market. One notable example is the popular online multiplayer game League of Legends. In 2019, the game’s developer, Riot Games, added Thai language support to the game, allowing Thai players to play the game in their native language.
According to the EF English Proficiency Index, Thailand ranks 97th out of 111 countries, with a “very low” proficiency level. This makes game localization highly recommendable. On Steam, Thai is the 13th most used language as of February 2023. This is 1.05% of its users. Keep in mind that Steam had 132 million monthly active users in 2021, and it had a peak of 33.2 million concurrent users in January 2023.
In addition to language support, some game developers are incorporating Thai culture and mythology into their games. For example, Genshin Impact features Thai-inspired character designs and references to Thai mythology.
By and large, the growing presence of Thai in video games is a positive development for both Thai players and the gaming industry. This allows Thai players to fully enjoy and engage with games in their native language. In addition, it helps to promote cross-cultural understanding and appreciation among players from different countries.
Revenue and number of players in the countries that use Thai
According to Newzoo’s revenue estimates for 2021, Thailand is the 23rd largest market in the world in terms of game revenue, with $1.2 billion. There are around 32 million gamers in Thailand.
Undoubtedly, the top platform for Thai gamers is mobile. Specifically, a stunning 95% of Thailand’s urban online population utilize mobile applications for gaming. Nonetheless, Newzoo’s consumer Insights show that most gamers play on console and PC too: 84% of Thai urban gamers play on PC, and 69% play on console.
The vast majority of paying gamers spend money on in-game items or virtual goods. The most commonly bought item for men is playable characters (42%), and for women it’s in-game currencies (46%). The popularity of in-game currencies makes sense as the most popular franchises are Candy Crush and FIFA. Shooters, football games and mobile puzzle games are among the most popular genres in Thailand.
Some interesting facts
about the Thai game market
- Thailand is the 23rd largest market in the world in terms of game revenue with $1.2 billion
- There are around 32 million gamers in Thailand
Ready to grow?
Spend little. Gain a great deal!
Localizing a video game into more languages is a relatively small outlay compared to how much you will gain.
Spend a few thousand and gain several million new players.
Spend a few thousand and gain several million new players.
