Today's version 1.1.6 update includes a major change, the removal of Russian from the list of supported languages, alongside minor bug fixes.
Until now, I have used machine translation to localize the game, driven by a desire to have as many people as possible enjoy my work. Initially, the game supported Japanese and machine-translated English, and in the recent version 1.1.5, Russian was added.
While I did my best to review the English translation, I had no knowledge of Russian, so I regretfully used the machine-translated text as is. As I have become accustomed to reading with machine translation myself, I believed that having more language options would be better, and I still hold this belief. However, I also feared that the translation quality might be poor.
Recently, I received feedback from a user pointing out that the Russian text contained discriminatory expressions.
I have always understood that, even if words appear equivalent across languages, differences in linguistic systems and cultural backgrounds prevent them from fully conveying the same meaning. Additionally, I recognize that a language’s unique context and emotional nuance can impact its interpretation, and that “localization” is not just about translating text.
In this case, however, the issue goes beyond mere language conversion or localization. Certain words in the translation carried discriminatory meanings with strong political connotations, which was never my intention.
To anyone who was hurt or offended by this, I offer my sincerest apologies.
Sincerely,
Kittypool, Developer of GEARS STORY