Meet the team: Nicola Zonca 🇮🇹
Head of Italian Office | Business Development | Voice Director
My path into game localization began with music. For the first decade of my career, I was a touring musician, performing contemporary and jazz music across the globe. Music wasn’t just a profession — it was my way of exploring the world and connecting with people across cultures.
That passion for sound naturally evolved into a new creative chapter. I founded Studio Arki, where I composed soundtracks, designed audio, and directed dubbing for theatre, film, television, and dance. Over time, the world of interactive storytelling — and particularly video games — pulled me in. By the late 1990s, localization for the Italian market had become a core focus.
Eventually, the vision grew bigger. Together with three incredible colleagues and friends –  Diana, Vincent, and Friedrich – we founded Native Prime, uniting a network of monolingual, in-country localization studios. Instead of building a centralized language service provider, we created a tribe of tribes — native specialists rooted in their own culture, collaborating as equals to deliver authentic, emotionally resonant experiences in every language.
Since then, it’s been an incredible journey — helping guide the company’s growth and evolution into what it is today. At Native Prime, I lead the Italian branch and oversee business development — but more importantly, I help bring people together around projects that matter. For me, localization is never just about words or processes; it’s about people, cultures, and emotions.
What I value most in our industry is this unique intersection: a highly technical, fast-moving space that’s also deeply artistic and human. As a voice director, my core belief is simple: never lose sight of the emotional truth. Technology is essential, but in the end, the quality of the performance defines how players feel. And in games, feeling is everything.
My leadership philosophy reflects that same balance. I believe in nurturing people, creating space for growth, and always putting quality of life at the center. Strong teams aren’t just efficient — they’re inspired.
Outside the studio, you’ll usually find me on or near the sea — freediving, sailing, or making wine, often in the beautiful Aegean. These passions give me balance and perspective — the same depth and connection I aim to bring into every project we take on at Native Prime.
