Localizing your application is an essential step to expand into new markets and provide a tailored user experience for players and users worldwide. This guide will walk you through how to use the PatchKit Launcher SDK to implement internationalization (i18n) and localization effectively.
Why Localization Matters
Localization ensures your application communicates with users in their preferred language, enhancing accessibility and user satisfaction. The PatchKit Launcher SDK makes this process straightforward by offering tools to manage language preferences and seamlessly integrate localization into your application’s frontend.
Managing Language Preferences in PatchKit Launcher SDK
Consistent Language Preference
To maintain a consistent experience across the launcher, it’s important to configure a centralized language preference system. PatchKit SDK allows you to define available languages, set a fallback language, and dynamically update language settings.
Defining Available Languages and Fallback Language
Start by defining the languages your application will support and configuring a fallback language. Open your preset file and add the following fields:
availableLangs: {
"en": {}, // English (generic)
"en-US": {}, // English (United States)
"de-CH": {}, // German (Switzerland)
}
In this structure:
- Each key represents a BCP47 language tag.
- The value (an empty object here) is reserved for future use.
Next, specify the fallback language using the fallbackLangTag field. The launcher will revert to this language if neither the user’s preferred language nor the system language matches the available languages:
fallbackLangTag: "en";
Setting Preferred Language and Fetching Current Language
The PatchKit Launcher SDK provides a straightforward API for setting and retrieving the current language tag.
Setting the Preferred Language
Use the setPreferredLangTag function to set the user’s preferred language. For example:
setPreferredLangTag("de-CH"); // Sets the language to Swiss German
Fetching the Current Language Tag
Retrieve the current language tag using fetchCurrentLangTag. This function follows a simple algorithm to determine the active language:
- If the preferred language is set, match it against the available languages.
- If no preferred language is set, match the system language against the available languages.
- If no match is found, default to the fallback language.
Integrating Localization in the Launcher Theme
Since the launcher theme is a frontend project, you can use any localization framework or solution, such as i18next or react-i18next for React applications.
Example: Integrating react-i18next
Here’s an example of how to integrate the current language setting with react-i18next in your launcher theme:
const currentLangTag = useCurrentLangTag();
useEffect(() => {
i18n.changeLanguage(currentLangTag);
}, [currentLangTag]);
Key Notes:
- Replace occurrences of
i18n.changeLanguagewithsetPreferredLangTagwhen necessary to ensure the “source of truth” remains the language data managed byuseCurrentLangTag.
Best Practices for Localization
- Use Consistent Language Codes: Stick to BCP47 tags to avoid mismatches.
- Fallback Logic: Always define a fallback language to ensure users are never left without proper language support.
- Dynamic Updates: Leverage the SDK’s real-time language updating capabilities for a seamless user experience.
- Testing: Test your application thoroughly in all supported languages to catch any untranslated strings or layout issues.
Conclusion
Localization with the PatchKit Launcher SDK is both powerful and flexible. By defining available languages, implementing fallback logic, and integrating frameworks like react-i18next, you can provide a polished, multilingual experience for your users.
Start localizing your launcher today and unlock new opportunities in global markets!
