Developers Part Ways with Analytics Software Red Shell Following Claims That It's Spyware

Recently, a lot of video game fans have raised concern that the analytics software Red Shell is a type of spyware. So, several video game developers responded by dropping their partnership with the company.

First, what is Red Shell? In some online community discussions, a number of players were initially confused with what Red Shell actually is. Some even thought that it was a reference to a Mario Kart reference. But Red Shell is, in fact, a company that offers analytics software services.

On its official website, Red Shell explains that they help developers and publishers determine “the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns.” Red Shell is practically helping video game companies that run advertisements on various channels track which of their ad posts are doing a better job at reaching its target audience.

Red Shell says they collect various data such as that on “operating system, browser version number, IP address (anonymized through one-way hashing), screen resolution, in-game user id, and font profiles.”

Thousands of Reddit users have been following a post by Alexspeed that branded Red Shell a type of spyware. “Red shell is a Spyware that tracks data of your PC and shares it with 3rd parties. On their website they formulate it all in very harmless language, but the fact is that this is software from someone I don't trust and whom I never invited,” the post reads.

With a growing number of disgruntled and worried video game fans, developers of at least 16 titles reportedly withdrew or promised to end their partnerships with Red Shell on Tuesday, according to Kotaku’s Steamed.

Meanwhile, some studios stand by Red Shell, reassuring gamers that the software is not spyware. “The Elder Scrolls: Legends” developer Dire Wolf Digital said in a Reddit post, “Red Shell is not “spyware”. It does not interact with your personal information or identity in any way, and no data gets sold to or shared with anybody here. We don’t do that kind of thing, and never would.”

Meanwhile, Red Shell refuted the spyware accusations and told Steamed, “We are gamers. We love games. ... The last thing we’d want to do is anything that is going to upset their communities.”