I understand the frustration with past AI translation failures and the risk of poor user experience these are valid points.
However, my opinion is that AI technology has improved dramatically in recent years. Modern AI models like Lara and TextCortex, trained on millions of translations and continuously improved by community feedback, can now produce much better results than before.
Using AI as a first step is not about replacing professional translators or delivering perfect translations immediately. Rather, it’s a practical way to lower the entry barrier for many Italian players who currently struggle to access the game due to complex technical language and limited English skills.
Community involvement is key: after an initial AI-assisted translation, human players can review and improve the text, making it better over time. This collaborative approach has worked well for other games and projects.
Regarding your point on costs and workload, I believe that starting with AI actually helps reduce initial localization costs and invites the community to actively contribute turning potential frustration into constructive engagement.
Of course, this is my opinion, but I think it’s worth trying rather than leaving the Italian market underserved.