Toby Fox Explains Why Undertale and Deltarune Still Lack Official Non-Japanese Localizations
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Toby Fox explains why Undertale and Deltarune still lack official non-Japanese localizations, citing a strict need for personal creative control over the text.
The massive success of Undertale and the ongoing rollout of Deltarune have cemented developer Toby Fox as an icon in modern indie gaming, but a long-standing point of frustration remains for international fans. Outside of English and Japanese, neither RPG has received official translation support, leaving massive communities waiting for answers. Following recent discussions on social media, Fox took to Bluesky to address the situation directly and clarify why official localizations have not materialized for other languages like Spanish.
Fox emphasized that the delay is not born from a lack of care for global players, but rather stems from a strict desire to maintain creative control over the text. Because he is personally fluent in Japanese, he was able to work closely with publishers like 8-4 to thoroughly check every line and ensure it matched his exact vision. Without that same level of personal oversight in other languages, Fox has been hesitant to give official localizations the green light, though he noted that he and his team are still exploring options for the future.
While independent game development usually leans heavily on third-party localization teams to bring hits to global audiences, Fox is clearly holding out for a bespoke process that meets his personal standards. He did acknowledge and express appreciation for the robust modding community that creates unofficial translations on PC, yet the wait for an official global rollout continues. As reported by Eurogamer, players outside of English and Japanese regions will need to remain patient while one of indie gaming's most protective creators figures out his next move.
Tags: Undertale, Deltarune, Toby Fox, Indie Games, Localization
Original article: Eurogamer