Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 31, 2026

This policy explains what information Gameoverse ("we," "us," "our site") collects across our website, live stream chat, Discord bot, and related features, and how that information is used.

Information We Collect

What we collect depends on how you use the site:

  • Account information. If you sign in (via a one-time email link, with no password ever asked for or stored), we have your email address and display name. Signing in lets you follow games, maintain a personal game library, vote in Game of the Year, chat, and manage notification preferences.
  • Chat messages. Messages you send in our live Big Screen chat are stored and displayed publicly to other visitors and, if our Discord relay is active, mirrored into our Discord server (and vice versa: Discord messages are mirrored back into the site's chat).
  • Preferences and profile settings. Things you set yourself: chat name color, font size, notification toggles, badge selection, and similar display preferences.
  • Game calendar activity. Games you follow, add to your personal library, or rank in a Game of the Year ballot. Game of the Year ballots are private to your account; only the aggregated, anonymized site-wide results are ever made public.
  • Discord account linking (optional). If you choose to link a Discord account, we store your Discord user ID to associate it with your site account (for chat relay, roles, and bot features). You can unlink at any time from your Account page.
  • In-site game data (RPG feature). If you play our built-in idle RPG feature, we store your character progress, inventory, and related game state.

We do not collect payment information, government-issued IDs, or precise location data. We do not sell your information to anyone.

How We Use Information

  • To operate core site features: chat, the game calendar, the RPG, and your account settings.
  • To send you optional notifications you've opted into (e.g., email alerts for games you follow), which you can disable at any time from your Account page.
  • To maintain basic security and prevent abuse (e.g., moderation of chat).

Third-Party Services

We rely on the following third-party services to operate the site. Each only receives the minimum information needed for its purpose:

  • Our own servers: host your account, game calendar activity (follows, library, Game of the Year ballots), and privacy/notification settings directly, so this data no longer passes through any third-party platform.
  • Our email provider: delivers your one-time sign-in links and any optional notifications you've opted into.
  • Google Firebase (Realtime Database): hosts live chat messages and RPG progress only. Your account is identified internally by a one-way cryptographic hash of your email address, not your email itself, wherever technically possible.
  • Discord: used only if you choose to link your Discord account, to relay chat and manage optional community roles.
  • YouTube Data API: used to detect when our channel is live and to relay our own YouTube live stream's public chat into the site and Discord. This only reads publicly visible live chat messages from our own channel's broadcasts; it does not access your personal YouTube account or data.
  • RAWG, IGDB, IsThereAnyDeal, and console storefront data (Xbox, Nintendo, PlayStation): used server-side to populate our game release calendar with public game information, screenshots, and pricing. No information about you is ever sent to these services.

Use of YouTube API Services

Our Big Screen page uses the YouTube API Services to embed our own live stream and to detect when it's currently live. Our automated systems also use the YouTube Data API to read the public live chat from our own broadcasts, so those messages can be relayed into our site's chat and our Discord server. We only read publicly visible chat messages from our own channel's live streams; we do not access your personal YouTube account, videos, playlists, or any other private YouTube data.

By using our Big Screen feature, you're also agreeing to be bound by the YouTube Terms of Service.

Google's own Privacy Policy, which explains how Google handles data in connection with YouTube API Services, is available at policies.google.com/privacy.

You can revoke this site's access to your Google account data at any time (if you ever granted any) via Google security settings, under "Third-party apps with account access."

Cookies

Our site uses a session cookie (set by our own server) to keep you signed in. We do not use third-party advertising or tracking cookies.

Data Retention & Deletion

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. If you'd like your account data deleted, contact us using the information below and we'll remove it, with the exception of chat messages already visible to others (which may remain as part of the public chat history, same as any public message board) and any data we're required to retain by law.

Children's Privacy

Our site is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from children under 13.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top will always reflect the most recent revision.

Contact Us

Questions about this policy or your data? Contact us at admin@gameoverse.com.