Adding real voices to a video game is not cheap. In Spain, dubbing a small title with little dialogue can cost around 10,000 euros. But if we are talking about an RPG or an open world with hundreds of characters, the bill skyrockets to over 60,000 euros. It all depends on the size of the script, the number of actors, and the studio hours.
How the technical cost of dubbing is calculated 🎙️
The budget is defined by three factors: number of words, actors hired, and recording sessions. A studio charges between 200 and 400 euros per hour in the booth, plus broadcast rights per actor. For a 20,000-word game with 10 voices, the cost is around 30,000 euros. Adding localization, direction, and editing raises the final figure. There are no shortcuts if you seek professional quality.
And then you complain that the protagonist doesn't speak your language 😤
Paying 60,000 euros for dubbing sounds crazy until you see four actors reading side quest lines for three days. The real problem is when the studio cuts corners and hires the programmer's cousin to play an orc. That's why some games sound like local radio at rush hour. Cheap ends up expensive, or it sounds really bad.