Popular football video game should be translated into Welsh, Senedd told
Popular football video game should be translated into Welsh, Senedd told
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A popular football video game should be translated into Welsh, the Senedd has heard. Plaid Cymru’s Mabon ap Gwynfor wants to “put pressure” on games developer Electronic Arts (EA) to produce a Welsh language version of EA Sports FC – formerly known as Fifa.
Speaking on the floor of the Siambr (Senedd debating chamber) on Wednesday, Mr ap Gwynfor said the move would help learners and he asked Mark Drakeford, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language, to support the move. He said: “I visited Ysgol Glan-y-Mor (a school in Pwllheli) and spoke to one new Welsh speaker, a pupil, who said that what would encourage him to speak more Welsh would be to play EA Sports Fifa through the medium of Welsh.
“I contacted EA Sports, and they responded saying: ‘Unfortunately, it will not be possible to include the Welsh language in EA Sports FC 24.’. “Adding that it would take two years for them to produce a Welsh-medium version.”. Having gaming available through the medium of Welsh is vital for people.
He said he had spoken to other children who wanted to see Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft available in Welsh and called on Mr Drakeford to “join with me in putting pressure” on game developers. Mr Drakeford, a former Welsh first minister, said he was “content” to raise the issue.
“Having gaming available through the medium of Welsh is vital for people,” he said. “As Mabon ap Gwynfor said, when the sector is changing so quickly, it’s important for young people to have the things that they enjoy available to them in English available in Welsh as well.”.
