Privacy Policy

Short Version

GoodGame.Ruhr is an independent gaming magazine with community features. We do not use advertising or tracking networks and avoid unnecessary data processing. We process personal data where it is needed to run the website, provide your account, enable community features, keep the platform secure or support integrations you actively use.

Last updated: June 22, 2026

Controller

The controller for GoodGame.Ruhr is Sascha Greuel, Roßheidestr. 149, 45968 Gladbeck, Germany.

Email: kontakt@goodgame.ruhr

No data protection officer has been appointed because there is no legal obligation to do so.

Data We Process

Website Access

When you visit the website, our server processes technical access data, especially IP address, IP-based location information, date and time, requested URL, referrer, browser, operating system and transferred data volume. This is necessary to deliver the website, diagnose errors and detect attacks or abuse. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. Log data is stored only as long as needed for operation and security; security incidents may require longer retention.

Cookies, Local Data and Service Workers

The website uses technically required cookies and similar storage, for example for sessions, login, CSRF protection, language, style, notifications, read state and selected settings. Core parts of the website would not work reliably without them. The legal basis is Section 25(2) TDDDG and Art. 6(1)(b) and (f) GDPR. Optional browser notifications are used only if you allow them in your browser.

Account and Community

If you create an account or log in, we process the account data you provide, such as username, email address, password hash, language, profile data, avatar, settings, sessions and security timestamps. If you publish content, comment, react, search, use conversations, subscribe to content or enable notifications, we store the required content and metadata. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR, and additionally Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR for security, moderation and abuse prevention.

Articles, Comments, Media and Uploads

Content you publish may be visible publicly, including username, avatar, publication time, tags, reactions and edit notes. Uploaded files are stored with metadata needed for display, download, previews, technical conversion and permission checks. This also applies to images, avatars and media for which GoodGame.Ruhr creates optimized variants. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(b) and (f) GDPR.

Age Checks for Game Content

For age-restricted articles, guests may have their confirmation that they are at least 18 years old stored in a technically necessary cookie or local browser storage. For logged-in users, the birth date stored in the profile may also be considered if provided. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR; technically necessary storage additionally relies on Section 25(2) TDDDG.

Avatar Gallery

The avatar gallery stores which avatar and frame you selected. If you upload your own avatar, it is stored like a regular account avatar. The gallery also contains imported assets from public Steam sources; this import is performed server-side and affects you only when you select an asset. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR.

Contact and Email

If you contact us by form or email, we process your details to answer your request. Depending on the request, the legal basis is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR or Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. Messages are deleted when no longer needed unless legal retention duties or legitimate interests require retention.

SCaptcha and Spam Protection

GoodGame.Ruhr uses SCaptcha to protect forms, registration, login and other sensitive actions against automated access, spam, abuse and attacks. SCaptcha generally runs locally in our hosting environment. When you use or interact with SCaptcha, it may process IP address, user agent, requested page, time, verification result, failed attempts, technical browser/device information and, where enabled, interaction signals such as mouse or keyboard events, visibility, timing and canvas, audio or WebGL characteristics. Security scores may be derived from this data, for example to assess whether a request is likely to come from a human user. For forms with an email address, domain, MX and disposable-email checks may also be performed. SCaptcha logs are cleaned up regularly; entries older than 90 days are removed. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR; technically necessary storage additionally relies on Section 25(2) TDDDG.

Search and Tags

Search queries, tags and filters are processed to find content, provide suggestions and prevent abuse. If search statistics are stored, we use them only to improve internal search and not for advertising or profiling. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.

External Services and Integrations

External Login and Account Linking

If enabled, you may log in or link your account through Steam, Discord, Twitch or IsThereAnyDeal. You will be redirected to the provider. We receive the data required for login or linking, such as provider ID, username and, if provided by the provider, email address. We never receive your provider password. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR and, for voluntary linking, Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR.

Provider privacy notices: Steam, Discord, Twitch, IsThereAnyDeal.

Game Database and Price/Library Features

GoodGame.Ruhr synchronizes game, platform, media, release, rating, shop, price and deal data from external sources to keep editorial content, search features, game profiles, price boxes and the game database up to date. These catalog and price updates run server-side in the background and generally concern public game data. External sources do not receive your account data unless you actively use an external account link.

If you connect a game library or shop account, we process the linking data required for that feature, such as provider, provider ID, external account ID, authorization or access tokens, sync status, last and next sync time, imported games/app IDs, matching status and, where provided by the provider, playtime or ownership status. Synchronization is used to display your game library locally, match it with existing game profiles and keep it up to date. You can disconnect a link again; after that, new synchronizations stop and imported library entries are removed or anonymized according to the feature rules. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR and, where linking is voluntary, Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR.

External Content and Sharing

Posts may contain external content such as videos, social posts or embedded media. Such content loads only after you activate it or grant the corresponding approval on the website. When sharing through social links or the native share menu, you decide whether to transfer data to the selected service.

Moderation, Security and Legal Duties

To enforce our rules and protect the platform, we process reports, moderation decisions, bans, warnings, technical audit data and similar security data. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. Where we are legally required to store or disclose data, the legal basis is Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR.

Recipients and Processors

Personal data is available only to parties that need it for operation, security or handling your request. This may include hosting/IT providers, email providers, external login providers when actively used and authorities where legally required. We do not pass data on for advertising.

International Transfers

Some external providers are located or operate infrastructure outside the EU or EEA. Data is transferred there only if you use the relevant feature or activate external content. Where required, such transfers rely on adequacy decisions, standard contractual clauses, consent or other legal bases.

Retention and Deletion

We store personal data only as long as necessary for the relevant purpose. Account data generally remains while your account is active. After account deletion, personal account data is deleted or anonymized unless legal duties, security reasons or legitimate interests require retention. Public posts may remain anonymized to preserve discussion context. Backups are overwritten regularly.

Your Rights

Under the GDPR, you have the right of access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability and objection. Where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw consent at any time with future effect. You may also lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority, for example the State Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information of North Rhine-Westphalia.

No Automated Decisions

GoodGame.Ruhr does not make automated decisions with legal effect and does not create advertising profiles.

Changes

We update this privacy policy when features, services or legal requirements change. The latest version applies from publication on this page.