Red Shell tracker: Difference between revisions

The controversy arose because players weren’t notified or given the option to opt out, which many felt was a violation of their privacy. 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>{{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}}</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>

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. However, they stated that they took privacy seriously 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.

The consumer response to the Red Shell incident in Warhammer: Vermintide 2 was largely negative, with many players expressing anger and frustration over the lack of transparency regarding the data tracking tool. Many felt that the inclusion of Red Shell without prior notification or consent was a violation of their privacy. Players on forums, social media, and review sites criticized Fatshark for using tracking software that they perceived as a form of spyware, even though the data collected was anonymized.<ref name=":0" />

Some players were particularly upset because they were unaware that the tool was running in the background, especially those who had obtained the game through free promotions or discounts. Concerns were raised about the game's integrity and trustworthiness, with accusations that it might lead to further, more invasive forms of tracking in the future.<ref name=":1" /> This backlash led to widespread criticism, and in response, Fatshark removed Red Shell from the game in late June 2018, apologizing to players for the oversight and assuring them that their privacy would be respected moving forward.