Red Shell tracker: Difference between revisions

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{{~~Incomplete~~}}The Red Shell Tracker is a tracker used in many popular games.

{{IncidentCargo

|Company=

|StartDate=2018

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|Status=Active

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|ArticleType=Product

|Type=Advertising, Privacy, Surveillance

|Description=

}}

The Red Shell Tracker is a tracker used in many popular games.

==Red Shell Data Harvesting==

The Red Shell incident occurred in 2018 when players discovered that several games had silently included a third-party tracking tool called Red Shell. This software collected anonymized data (like operating system, browser type, and screen resolution) to help game developers understand how effective their ads were at bringing in players.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=18 Jun 2018 |title=Total War, Vermintide, and more are dumping controversial tracking program Red Shell |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/red-shell-spyware |url-status=live |access-date=24 Jun 2025 |website=pcgamesn.com}}</ref>

The Red Shell incident occurred in 2018 when players discovered that several games had silently included a third-party tracking tool called Red Shell. This software collected anonymized data (like operating system, browser type, and screen resolution) to help game developers understand how effective their ads were at bringing in players.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=18 Jun 2018 |title=Total War, Vermintide, and more are dumping controversial tracking program Red Shell |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/red-shell-spyware |url-status=live |access-date=24 Jun 2025 |website=pcgamesn.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708173605/https://www.pcgamesn.com/red-shell-spyware |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref>

The controversy arose because players weren’t notified or given the option to opt out, which many felt was a violation of their privacy.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=2018-06-19 |title=Red Shell analytics software causes privacy uproar, over a dozen developers vow to drop it (Updated) |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/red-shell-analytics-software-causes-privacy-uproar-over-a-dozen-developers-vow-to-drop-it/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref> While there was an opt-out option, allowing players to disable Red Shell's tracking through redshell.io/optout or by contacting Red Shell directly, many felt this should have been communicated more clearly.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@BrokenClock |date=2018-06-11 |title=RedShell! Spyware?! - Warhammer: Vermintide 2 / Gameplay Feedback |url=https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/redshell-spyware/24228 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=Fatshark Forums}}</ref> As word spread, the backlash grew quickly across forums and social media, with accusations of [[spyware]] being leveled at games using the tool.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |~~author~~=u/Alexspeed75 |date=2018-06-09 |title=<nowiki>[PSA]</nowiki> RED SHELL Spyware - "Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?!" integrated and removed it after complaints : r/Steam |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/8pud8b/psa_red_shell_spyware_holy_potatoes_were_in_space/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=wiuuuh |title=Steam Community :: Guide :: How to block the REDSHELL spyware (new steam spyware) |url=https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1417938235 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=steamcommunity.com}}</ref> Due to mounting pressure, dozens of developers—including Fatshark—publicly committed to removing Red Shell from their games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Good |first=Owen S. |date=2018-06-20 |title=Red Shell ‘spyware’ caught in PC games and several studios take it out |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/20/17485762/red-shell-spyware-pc-games-controversy-steam/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=Polygon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=2018-06-20 |title=Studios commit to removing Red Shell due to player complaints |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/studios-commit-to-removing-red-shell-due-to-player-complaints |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref>

The controversy arose because players weren’t notified or given the option to opt out, which many felt was a violation of their privacy.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=2018-06-19 |title=Red Shell analytics software causes privacy uproar, over a dozen developers vow to drop it (Updated) |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/red-shell-analytics-software-causes-privacy-uproar-over-a-dozen-developers-vow-to-drop-it/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=PC Gamer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114073753/https://www.pcgamer.com/red-shell-analytics-software-causes-privacy-uproar-over-a-dozen-developers-vow-to-drop-it/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref> While there was an opt-out option, allowing players to disable Red Shell's tracking through redshell.io/optout or by contacting Red Shell directly, many felt this should have been communicated more clearly.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@BrokenClock |date=2018-06-11 |title=RedShell! Spyware?! - Warhammer: Vermintide 2 / Gameplay Feedback |url=https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/redshell-spyware/24228 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=Fatshark Forums |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708173606/https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/redshell-spyware/24228 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> As word spread, the backlash grew quickly across forums and social media, with accusations of [[spyware]] being leveled at games using the tool.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=u/Alexspeed75 |date=2018-06-09 |title=<nowiki>[PSA]</nowiki> RED SHELL Spyware - "Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?!" integrated and removed it after complaints : r/Steam |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/8pud8b/psa_red_shell_spyware_holy_potatoes_were_in_space/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=reddit |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250307171414/https://old.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/8pud8b/psa_red_shell_spyware_holy_potatoes_were_in_space/ |archive-date=7 Mar 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=wiuuuh |title=Steam Community :: Guide :: How to block the REDSHELL spyware (new steam spyware) |url=https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1417938235 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=steamcommunity.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211205505/https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1417938235 |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> Due to mounting pressure, dozens of developers—including Fatshark—publicly committed to removing Red Shell from their games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Good |first=Owen S. |date=2018-06-20 |title=Red Shell ‘spyware’ caught in PC games and several studios take it out |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/20/17485762/red-shell-spyware-pc-games-controversy-steam/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=Polygon |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251030154108/https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/20/17485762/red-shell-spyware-pc-games-controversy-steam/ |archive-date=30 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=2018-06-20 |title=Studios commit to removing Red Shell due to player complaints |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/studios-commit-to-removing-red-shell-due-to-player-complaints |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241208142133/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/studios-commit-to-removing-red-shell-due-to-player-complaints |archive-date=8 Dec 2024}}</ref>

==Fatshark's response==

Fatshark, the developer of Warhammer: Vermintide 2, responded to the Red Shell controversy by acknowledging the community's concerns and announcing they would remove the software.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Calvin |first=Alex |date=19 Jun 2018 |title=Vermintide, Elder Scrolls and Total War devs ditch Red Shell |url=https://www.pcgamesinsider.biz/news/67270/vermintide-elder-scrolls-and-total-war-devs-ditch-red-shell/ |url-status= |access-date=24 Jun 2025 |website=www.pcgamesinsider.biz}}</ref> In a statement on their official forums, they clarified that Red Shell was used only to track the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns and did not collect personal information. They also stated that they understood the concerns and, due to the backlash and lack of player consent, they would disable and fully remove Red Shell from the game in a future update.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Hedge |date=2018-06-15 |title=Red Shell Spyware? :: Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Helmgart Keep - General Discussions |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/552500/discussions/0/1696049513777441702/?ctp=19#c3559414588253858897 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=steamcommunity.com}}</ref>

Fatshark, the developer of Warhammer: Vermintide 2, responded to the Red Shell controversy by acknowledging the community's concerns and announcing they would remove the software.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Calvin |first=Alex |date=19 Jun 2018 |title=Vermintide, Elder Scrolls and Total War devs ditch Red Shell |url=https://www.pcgamesinsider.biz/news/67270/vermintide-elder-scrolls-and-total-war-devs-ditch-red-shell/ |url-status= |access-date=24 Jun 2025 |website=www.pcgamesinsider.biz |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251205223856/https://www.pcgamesinsider.biz/news/67270/vermintide-elder-scrolls-and-total-war-devs-ditch-red-shell/ |archive-date=5 Dec 2025}}</ref> In a statement on their official forums, they clarified that Red Shell was used only to track the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns and did not collect personal information. They also stated that they understood the concerns and, due to the backlash and lack of player consent, they would disable and fully remove Red Shell from the game in a future update.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Hedge |date=2018-06-15 |title=Red Shell Spyware? :: Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Helmgart Keep - General Discussions |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/552500/discussions/0/1696049513777441702/?ctp=19#c3559414588253858897 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=steamcommunity.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250506091529/https://steamcommunity.com/app/552500/discussions/0/1696049513777441702/?ctp=19 |archive-date=6 May 2025}}</ref>

==Consumer response==

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-{{Incomplete}}The Red Shell Tracker is a tracker used in many popular games.
+{{IncidentCargo
+|Company=
+|StartDate=2018
+|EndDate=
+|Status=Active
+|ProductLine=
+|Product=
+|ArticleType=Product
+|Type=Advertising, Privacy, Surveillance
+|Description=
+}}
+The Red Shell Tracker is a tracker used in many popular games.
 ==Red Shell Data Harvesting==
-The Red Shell incident occurred in 2018 when players discovered that several games had silently included a third-party tracking tool called Red Shell. This software collected anonymized data (like operating system, browser type, and screen resolution) to help game developers understand how effective their ads were at bringing in players.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=18 Jun 2018 |title=Total War, Vermintide, and more are dumping controversial tracking program Red Shell |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/red-shell-spyware |url-status=live |access-date=24 Jun 2025 |website=pcgamesn.com}}</ref>
+The Red Shell incident occurred in 2018 when players discovered that several games had silently included a third-party tracking tool called Red Shell. This software collected anonymized data (like operating system, browser type, and screen resolution) to help game developers understand how effective their ads were at bringing in players.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Dustin |date=18 Jun 2018 |title=Total War, Vermintide, and more are dumping controversial tracking program Red Shell |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/red-shell-spyware |url-status=live |access-date=24 Jun 2025 |website=pcgamesn.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708173605/https://www.pcgamesn.com/red-shell-spyware |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref>
-The controversy arose because players weren’t notified or given the option to opt out, which many felt was a violation of their privacy.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=2018-06-19 |title=Red Shell analytics software causes privacy uproar, over a dozen developers vow to drop it (Updated) |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/red-shell-analytics-software-causes-privacy-uproar-over-a-dozen-developers-vow-to-drop-it/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=PC Gamer}}</ref> While there was an opt-out option, allowing players to disable Red Shell's tracking through redshell.io/optout or by contacting Red Shell directly, many felt this should have been communicated more clearly.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@BrokenClock |date=2018-06-11 |title=RedShell! Spyware?! - Warhammer: Vermintide 2 / Gameplay Feedback |url=https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/redshell-spyware/24228 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=Fatshark Forums}}</ref> As word spread, the backlash grew quickly across forums and social media, with accusations of [[spyware]] being leveled at games using the tool.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |author=u/Alexspeed75 |date=2018-06-09 |title=<nowiki>[PSA]</nowiki> RED SHELL Spyware - "Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?!" integrated and removed it after complaints : r/Steam |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/8pud8b/psa_red_shell_spyware_holy_potatoes_were_in_space/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=reddit}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=wiuuuh |title=Steam Community :: Guide :: How to block the REDSHELL spyware (new steam spyware) |url=https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1417938235 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=steamcommunity.com}}</ref> Due to mounting pressure, dozens of developers—including Fatshark—publicly committed to removing Red Shell from their games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Good |first=Owen S. |date=2018-06-20 |title=Red Shell ‘spyware’ caught in PC games and several studios take it out |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/20/17485762/red-shell-spyware-pc-games-controversy-steam/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=Polygon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=2018-06-20 |title=Studios commit to removing Red Shell due to player complaints |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/studios-commit-to-removing-red-shell-due-to-player-complaints |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref>
+The controversy arose because players weren’t notified or given the option to opt out, which many felt was a violation of their privacy.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=2018-06-19 |title=Red Shell analytics software causes privacy uproar, over a dozen developers vow to drop it (Updated) |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/red-shell-analytics-software-causes-privacy-uproar-over-a-dozen-developers-vow-to-drop-it/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=PC Gamer |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251114073753/https://www.pcgamer.com/red-shell-analytics-software-causes-privacy-uproar-over-a-dozen-developers-vow-to-drop-it/ |archive-date=14 Nov 2025}}</ref> While there was an opt-out option, allowing players to disable Red Shell's tracking through redshell.io/optout or by contacting Red Shell directly, many felt this should have been communicated more clearly.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@BrokenClock |date=2018-06-11 |title=RedShell! Spyware?! - Warhammer: Vermintide 2 / Gameplay Feedback |url=https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/redshell-spyware/24228 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=Fatshark Forums |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708173606/https://forums.fatsharkgames.com/t/redshell-spyware/24228 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref> As word spread, the backlash grew quickly across forums and social media, with accusations of [[spyware]] being leveled at games using the tool.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=u/Alexspeed75 |date=2018-06-09 |title=<nowiki>[PSA]</nowiki> RED SHELL Spyware - "Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?!" integrated and removed it after complaints : r/Steam |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/8pud8b/psa_red_shell_spyware_holy_potatoes_were_in_space/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=reddit |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250307171414/https://old.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/8pud8b/psa_red_shell_spyware_holy_potatoes_were_in_space/ |archive-date=7 Mar 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=wiuuuh |title=Steam Community :: Guide :: How to block the REDSHELL spyware (new steam spyware) |url=https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1417938235 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=steamcommunity.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260211205505/https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1417938235 |archive-date=11 Feb 2026}}</ref> Due to mounting pressure, dozens of developers—including Fatshark—publicly committed to removing Red Shell from their games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Good |first=Owen S. |date=2018-06-20 |title=Red Shell ‘spyware’ caught in PC games and several studios take it out |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/20/17485762/red-shell-spyware-pc-games-controversy-steam/ |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=Polygon |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251030154108/https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/20/17485762/red-shell-spyware-pc-games-controversy-steam/ |archive-date=30 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=2018-06-20 |title=Studios commit to removing Red Shell due to player complaints |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/studios-commit-to-removing-red-shell-due-to-player-complaints |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241208142133/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/studios-commit-to-removing-red-shell-due-to-player-complaints |archive-date=8 Dec 2024}}</ref>
 ==Fatshark's response==
-Fatshark, the developer of Warhammer: Vermintide 2, responded to the Red Shell controversy by acknowledging the community's concerns and announcing they would remove the software.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Calvin |first=Alex |date=19 Jun 2018 |title=Vermintide, Elder Scrolls and Total War devs ditch Red Shell |url=https://www.pcgamesinsider.biz/news/67270/vermintide-elder-scrolls-and-total-war-devs-ditch-red-shell/ |url-status= |access-date=24 Jun 2025 |website=www.pcgamesinsider.biz}}</ref> In a statement on their official forums, they clarified that Red Shell was used only to track the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns and did not collect personal information. They also stated that they understood the concerns and, due to the backlash and lack of player consent, they would disable and fully remove Red Shell from the game in a future update.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Hedge |date=2018-06-15 |title=Red Shell Spyware? :: Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Helmgart Keep - General Discussions |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/552500/discussions/0/1696049513777441702/?ctp=19#c3559414588253858897 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=steamcommunity.com}}</ref>
+Fatshark, the developer of Warhammer: Vermintide 2, responded to the Red Shell controversy by acknowledging the community's concerns and announcing they would remove the software.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Calvin |first=Alex |date=19 Jun 2018 |title=Vermintide, Elder Scrolls and Total War devs ditch Red Shell |url=https://www.pcgamesinsider.biz/news/67270/vermintide-elder-scrolls-and-total-war-devs-ditch-red-shell/ |url-status= |access-date=24 Jun 2025 |website=www.pcgamesinsider.biz |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251205223856/https://www.pcgamesinsider.biz/news/67270/vermintide-elder-scrolls-and-total-war-devs-ditch-red-shell/ |archive-date=5 Dec 2025}}</ref> In a statement on their official forums, they clarified that Red Shell was used only to track the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns and did not collect personal information. They also stated that they understood the concerns and, due to the backlash and lack of player consent, they would disable and fully remove Red Shell from the game in a future update.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Hedge |date=2018-06-15 |title=Red Shell Spyware? :: Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Helmgart Keep - General Discussions |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/552500/discussions/0/1696049513777441702/?ctp=19#c3559414588253858897 |access-date=2025-11-09 |website=steamcommunity.com |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250506091529/https://steamcommunity.com/app/552500/discussions/0/1696049513777441702/?ctp=19 |archive-date=6 May 2025}}</ref>
 ==Consumer response==