What is Localization
Localization is the process of adapting content — whether a film, website, software application, training module, or marketing campaign — for a specific target language, culture, and market. It goes far beyond direct translation to include cultural adaptation, format adjustment, visual redesign, regulatory compliance, and audience-specific messaging to ensure the content feels native to each target market.
The difference between translation and localization is the difference between being understood and being trusted. A translated page conveys information. A localized page builds relationships. Gotham Lab delivers both — accurate, culturally precise localization that serves your business goals in every market you enter.
Our Localization Services
Gotham Lab provides end-to-end localization services across media, film, business, and digital content categories. Every service is performed in-house by our New York City-based team.
Target your ideal audience wherever they are with affordable localization services to help you grow your brand and your profits. You can speak to your ideal clients in their native language and convert them into brand loyalists by localizing your media content.
Gotham Lab’s affordable localization services provide a tailor-made content adaptation to your region’s specific needs and an in-depth contextual meaning to basic translation services.
Whether you are a production company preparing a feature film for international distribution, a corporation expanding into new markets, a game studio targeting players in Europe and Asia, or an eLearning provider reaching a global workforce — Gotham Lab has the in-house expertise, the technical infrastructure, and the language depth to deliver every component of your localization project to professional delivery standards.
Our New York City location puts us at the center of the US media and entertainment industry, giving our clients direct access to professional voice talent, post-production expertise, and a team that understands the delivery requirements of major distributors, streaming platforms, and broadcast networks. From single-language subtitle files to full multilingual dubbing packages, every project is managed by a dedicated project manager from intake through final delivery — with rates 20–30% below the national average because we never outsource and never mark up third-party costs.
| Service | What's included | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Movie localization | Film script translation, subtitling, dubbing, voice-over, SDH, CCSL creation, and trailer/marketing localization for production companies, distributors, and streaming platforms. | View service |
| Subtitling services | SRT, VTT, SCC, TTML, and platform-specific subtitle formats for theatrical, streaming (Netflix, Amazon, Disney+), broadcast, and festival delivery. SDH included. | View service |
| Voice-over production | Multilingual voice-over recorded in Gotham Lab's NYC studio with native-speaking professional talent across 50+ languages. | View service |
| Dubbing | Lip-synced dubbing for film, television, streaming, and commercial content. Native-speaking voice talent recorded and mixed in our NYC studio to broadcast delivery standards. | View service |
| Closed captioning | FCC-compliant closed captioning for broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms. SCC, SRT, and platform-specific formats. SDH captioning for streaming accessibility compliance. | View service |
| Audio description | Audio description scripts and production for visually impaired audiences. Meets broadcast and streaming accessibility compliance standards including FCC and CVAA requirements. | View service |
| CCSL services | Combined Continuity and Spotting List creation for film distribution delivery, Netflix/Amazon/Disney+ packages, and copyright registration. | View service |
| Translation services | Professional human translation in 50+ languages for documents, legal, business, technical, marketing, and multimedia content. Never AI-only output. | View service |
| Website localization | Full adaptation of website content, UI, navigation, metadata, images, and cultural references for international markets with multilingual SEO optimization. | Get a quote |
| eLearning localization | Training modules, LMS content, interactive lessons, and corporate e-learning platforms adapted for multilingual global teams. | View service |
| Software & app localization | UI strings, error messages, onboarding flows, help documentation, and app store listings localized for target markets in standard formats including XLIFF and JSON. | Get a quote |
| Game localization | Full game localization including UI, dialogue, subtitles, voice-over, cultural adaptation, and platform-specific compliance for console, PC, and mobile games. | Get a quote |
Media & Film Localization
Gotham Lab specializes in media localization for the film and entertainment industry — an area where our in-house New York City team has particular depth and expertise. We work with production companies, independent filmmakers, distributors, streaming platforms, and broadcast networks to deliver complete film localization packages from script translation through final subtitle and dubbing delivery.
Our media localization services include film script translation, movie subtitling in SRT, VTT, SCC, and platform-specific formats, SDH subtitles for streaming platform accessibility compliance, professional dubbing and voice-over production recorded in our NYC studio, CCSL creation for distribution delivery packages, and trailer and marketing material localization.
For filmmakers and content creators preparing for international distribution, our sister company GothamCCSL.com specializes exclusively in CCSL creation — the Combined Continuity and Spotting List required by Netflix, Amazon, Disney+, and most major distributors as part of their standard delivery package.
Subtitling & Closed Captioning Services
Gotham Lab provides professional subtitling and closed captioning services for theatrical, streaming, broadcast, and digital distribution. Our subtitle files conform to the exact technical specifications of every major platform and delivery standard — Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, Hulu, broadcast networks, and international theatrical distributors.
Our subtitling services cover multilingual subtitle creation in SRT, VTT, SCC, TTML, STL, and platform-specific formats, SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing) meeting streaming platform accessibility requirements, reading speed and character-per-line compliance for all platforms, and timecoded subtitle files matched to your locked master.
Our closed captioning services provide FCC-compliant closed captions for broadcast television, online video, corporate content, and streaming platforms. We deliver in SCC, SRT, and all major captioning formats with full quality review against the source video before delivery.
Voice-Over Production & Dubbing
Voice-over production
Our voice-over services cover corporate narration, museum audio guides, eLearning modules, commercial spots, documentary narration, explainer videos, and broadcast-ready multilingual voice recordings. Every session is directed and produced in-house by our NYC team with industry-leading recording equipment and production software to broadcast delivery standards.
Dubbing
Our dubbing services provide lip-synced foreign-language dialogue replacement for film, television, streaming series, and commercial content. Native-speaking voice talent are cast specifically for each role to match the age, tone, and character register of the original performance. Dubbing mixes are delivered in the exact audio format and channel configuration required by your distributor or platform.
Dubbing is available for all major language pairs and is particularly in demand for children’s content, streaming series, and theatrical releases targeting markets in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Latin America, and the Middle East — where dubbing is the dominant localization format.
Gotham Lab provides professional multilingual voice-over production and dubbing services from our in-house recording studio in New York City. Our voice roster includes hundreds of native-speaking professional voice talents across 50+ languages, with exclusive agreements with select performers to ensure availability, consistency, and brand alignment across long-term projects.
Audio Description Services
Audio description is a spoken narration track that describes visual elements of a film, television program, or video content for viewers who are blind or have low vision. Gotham Lab provides audio description scripts and full audio description production meeting FCC, CVAA, and international broadcasting accessibility compliance standards.
Our audio description services cover feature films and documentaries, television series and streaming content, museum and cultural institution audio guides, corporate and educational video content, and live event audio description. We work with broadcasters, streaming platforms, distributors, and cultural institutions to meet mandatory accessibility requirements and expand audience reach.
CCSL Services
A Combined Continuity and Spotting List (CCSL) is a required delivery document for international film distribution, streaming platform delivery packages, and film festival submissions. Gotham Lab’s sister company GothamCCSL.com specializes exclusively in CCSL creation for feature films, documentaries, short films, and episodic content — making us one of the only localization providers in the US offering both CCSL services and full film localization under one roof.
Having CCSL creation and film localization handled by the same provider eliminates the coordination delays and inconsistencies that occur when separate vendors manage these interdependent deliverables. Contact us to discuss your film’s distribution timeline and delivery requirements.
Translation Services
Gotham Lab provides professional human translation services in 50+ languages for documents, legal materials, business communications, technical content, marketing copy, multimedia scripts, and website content. Every translation is performed by a native-speaking linguist selected for subject-matter expertise in your specific industry — never AI-only output.
Our translation services include certified document translation, legal and contract translation, business and marketing translation, technical and scientific translation, website and digital content translation, and multimedia script translation for video, film, and broadcast content. All translations are reviewed and validated by a second linguist before delivery.
Website Localization
Multilingual Websites
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Website localization adapts your entire digital presence for international markets — not just the text, but the user interface, navigation structure, images, metadata, currency formats, date formats, and cultural references. A properly localized website ranks in local search engines in each target market, builds trust with native-language audiences, and converts at significantly higher rates than a translated-only site.
Gotham Lab’s website localization services cover content translation and cultural adaptation, multilingual SEO optimization for target market search engines, UI and navigation adaptation, metadata and alt text localization, and ongoing content updates as your site evolves. We work with businesses targeting markets in Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
Software & App Localization
Multilingual Software
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Software localization adapts your digital product — UI strings, error messages, onboarding flows, help documentation, tooltips, and app store listings — for users in each target market. Beyond translation, software localization includes locale-specific format adaptation for dates, times, currencies, and measurement units, as well as regulatory compliance adjustments for markets with specific legal requirements.
Gotham Lab provides software localization for desktop applications, mobile apps, and web platforms across all major platforms and operating systems. Our linguists work directly from your string files in standard formats including XLIFF, JSON, XML, and platform-specific formats, integrating smoothly with your development workflow.
eLearning & Corporate Training Localization
Corporate Localization
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eLearning localization adapts your training modules, LMS content, video lessons, assessments, and interactive learning experiences for employees and learners in any language and culture. Effective eLearning localization goes beyond translating text to include audio narration re-recording, culturally appropriate imagery, adapted examples and case studies, and format adjustments for right-to-left languages.
Gotham Lab works with corporate learning and development teams, online education platforms, universities, and training providers to deliver eLearning localization that maintains instructional effectiveness across every language version. Our linguists are selected for subject-matter expertise in your training content area.
Videogame Localization Services
Game Localization
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Game localization adapts video game content — UI text, dialogue, cutscene subtitles, voice-over scripts, in-game documentation, and marketing materials — for players in each target market. Gotham Lab provides game localization for console, PC, and mobile games across all major platforms, with experience in both AAA titles requiring large-scale multilingual delivery and independent games targeting specific international markets.
Our game localization services include UI and menu text translation, dialogue and cutscene subtitle localization, voice-over script adaptation and recording, cultural adaptation for market-specific content guidelines, platform submission compliance review, and marketing and app store listing localization.
Industries That We Serve
| Industry | Who we serve |
|---|---|
| Film & Entertainment | Production companies, distributors, streaming platforms, film festivals, independent filmmakers, broadcast networks |
| Corporate & Business | Global brands, marketing agencies, PR firms, financial institutions, multinational corporations |
| Education & eLearning | Universities, online learning platforms, corporate training providers, museums, cultural institutions |
| Legal & Compliance | Law firms, government agencies, regulatory bodies, immigration services |
| Technology & Gaming | Software developers, SaaS companies, app publishers, game studios, interactive media |
| Healthcare & Life Sciences | Medical device companies, pharmaceutical firms, healthcare providers, clinical research organizations |
| Advertising & Media | Advertising agencies, media companies, broadcast networks, content publishers |
Why Choose Gotham Lab for Localization Services?
In-house team — no outsourcing
Every localization project at Gotham Lab is handled exclusively by our NYC-based team of linguists, project managers, subtitlers, dubbing directors, voice-over artists, and media specialists. We never subcontract your content to third-party vendors. This means consistent quality standards, complete confidentiality for sensitive content, and a single accountable point of contact from project intake through final delivery.
New York City — since 2007
Founded in New York City in 2007, Gotham Lab operates at the center of the US media, entertainment, and business landscape. Our location gives us direct access to professional voice talent, proximity to production companies, distributors, and agencies, and a deep understanding of the delivery standards that US and international markets expect from a professional localization partner.
20–30% below competitor rates
Because we operate entirely in-house without a middleman markup, Gotham Lab’s localization rates are consistently 20–30% below the national average. Clients receive professional-grade localization at rates that make global expansion economically viable — whether you are a Fortune 500 corporation, an independent filmmaker on a production budget, or a startup localizing your app for the first time.
50+ languages with specialist linguists
We provide localization services in over 50 languages including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Hindi, Russian, Polish, Dutch, Swedish, and more. Every linguist on our roster is a native speaker selected for expertise in their specific industry — film and entertainment, legal, medical, corporate, gaming, or technical content.
f.a.q.
Frequently asked questions – Localization Services
Have questions about our localization services? Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions we receive from filmmakers, businesses, and content creators about translation, subtitling, dubbing, closed captioning, and localization pricing and timelines. If you don’t see your question answered here, contact our New York team directly — we respond within one business day.
What is the difference between translation and localization?
What is the difference between dubbing and subtitling?
What is closed captioning and who needs it?
How much do localization services cost?
How long does localization take?
Do you offer localization in all languages?
Is all work done in New York?
Do you work with independent filmmakers?
What is game localization and what does it include?
Can you handle large-scale multilingual localization projects?
Start Your Localization Project Today
Whether you are localizing a feature film for international distribution, dubbing a streaming series for European markets, adapting a corporate training platform for a global workforce, or translating your website for new markets in Europe or Asia, Gotham Lab’s New York localization services team is ready to support your project from consultation through delivery.
Contact us for a free consultation and project quote. We respond within one business day and can accommodate rush turnaround for time-sensitive projects and distribution deadlines.