Privacy and Cookie Policy

Last updated: 31 August 2026

We respect your privacy. This policy explains what information is collected when you use this website, why it is collected, how it is used and the choices available to you.

Who we are

This website is an independently operated editorial website based in the United Kingdom.

For data protection purposes, we are responsible for the personal information collected and processed through this website.

For privacy enquiries, contact [email protected].

Information we collect

You do not need to create an account or provide personal information to read this website.

Some information is processed automatically when you visit. This includes technical information required to deliver pages, maintain security, detect problems and understand how the website is being used.

Depending on your choices and how you use the website, information processed includes:

• Your IP address
• Browser and device information
• Operating system
• Pages viewed
• Approximate geographical location
• The website or service that referred you to us
• Interactions with pages and links
• Session information
• Cookie and consent preferences
• Information you choose to send to us by email

We do not use this information to identify individual readers unless this is necessary to investigate security issues, abuse, fraud or another legitimate problem.

Server logs and website security

Like most websites, our hosting and technical infrastructure creates server logs when pages and other resources are requested.

These logs include information such as your IP address, browser, requested URL, date and time, response status and referring page.

We use this information where necessary to operate and secure the website, diagnose technical problems, detect abuse and protect the website and its users.

Our lawful basis for this processing is our legitimate interest in operating and protecting the website.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics 4, also known as GA4, to understand how visitors use the website.

Google Analytics helps us understand which pages and articles are being read, how visitors reach the website, which devices and browsers are being used, how visitors move between pages and how readers interact with our content.

We also measure selected interactions such as article clicks, outbound links, topic or category links, scroll depth and reader engagement.

We use this information to improve the website, understand which content readers find useful and identify technical or usability problems.

Analytics consent

We use Google Consent Mode with Google Analytics.

We use Basic Consent Mode for analytics. Google Analytics does not load and analytics information is not sent to Google until you have given permission for analytics through our consent controls.

If you reject analytics, you are still able to use the website normally.

Where you consent to analytics, Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to distinguish visitors and sessions.

You are able to withdraw or change your consent at any time using the privacy or cookie settings available on the website.

Withdrawing consent does not affect processing that took place while your consent was valid.

Google Analytics cookies

Where you consent to analytics, Google Analytics uses cookies including:

• _ga – used to distinguish users and visits.
• _ga_<measurement ID> – used to maintain information about a visitor’s session and activity for the relevant Google Analytics property.

The exact lifespan of these cookies depends on our configuration, your browser and Google’s systems.

Analytics cookies are not required to use the website and are not set through our GA4 implementation until analytics consent has been given.

Google processing

Google processes information on our behalf when Google Analytics is enabled.

Google Analytics processes information including page views, browser and device information, approximate location, referral information, interactions and session data.

We do not send names, email addresses or other information intended to directly identify you to Google Analytics.

Google operates services internationally, so information processed through Google services is transferred to or processed outside the United Kingdom in some circumstances.

Where required, Google uses legal safeguards for international transfers of personal information. Google’s own privacy terms also apply to its processing of information.

Cookies and similar technologies

Cookies are small pieces of data stored on your device by websites.

We use cookies and similar technologies for different purposes.

Strictly necessary technologies

Some technologies are required for the website to function correctly, maintain security or remember essential choices.

Where a cookie or similar technology is strictly necessary to provide a service you have requested, it is used without consent where permitted by law.

Analytics

Analytics technologies help us understand how the website is used. These are optional and only operate after you have given the required consent.

Advertising

The website may display advertising provided by third parties, including Google AdSense.

Where advertising is active, advertising providers use cookies or similar technologies for purposes including delivering advertisements, measuring advertising performance, preventing fraud and, where you have agreed, personalising advertisements.

Where consent is required, advertising storage, personalised advertising and associated technologies only operate in accordance with the choices you make through our consent controls.

Rejecting personalised advertising does not prevent you from accessing the website. Depending on the advertising service and your choices, you may still see non-personalised or contextual advertising.

Google consent management

We use Google’s consent management technology to present privacy choices to visitors where required.

Your choices include options to accept relevant processing, reject it or manage individual purposes and partners where those options are provided.

Where Google Consent Mode is enabled, these choices are communicated to compatible Google services, including Google Analytics and, where used, Google advertising services.

You are able to change your choices later through the privacy or cookie settings provided on the website.

Affiliate links

Some articles contain affiliate links.

If you follow an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission. This does not normally increase the price you pay.

When you follow one of these links, you leave our website and visit another website.

The retailer, affiliate network or service involved may use cookies or other technologies to record that the visit originated from this website and attribute a purchase or other action.

The privacy and cookie policies of the destination website apply once you leave our website.

Where affiliate technology operates directly on our website and requires consent, it only operates after the required permission has been given.

External links

Our articles regularly link to external websites, including artists, developers, publishers, manufacturers, stores, crowdfunding campaigns, social networks and other sources.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of external websites.

When you follow an external link, the privacy policy of the destination website applies.

Embedded content

Our articles may include embedded content from third-party services, such as video, audio, social media or other interactive content.

Third-party embedded content may allow its provider to receive information about your device or visit.

Where loading an embed would result in non-essential cookies or similar technologies being used and consent is required, the relevant technology remains blocked until you have given permission.

Information you send to us

If you contact us by email, we receive the information you choose to provide.

This normally includes your email address, the contents of your message and any information or attachments you choose to send.

We use this information to respond to your enquiry and, where relevant, for editorial communication, source management, contributor communication or other legitimate correspondence.

Our lawful basis will normally be our legitimate interest in responding to correspondence and operating the website.

Where correspondence relates to a contract or proposed agreement, processing may also be necessary to take steps connected with that agreement.

We retain correspondence only for as long as reasonably required for its purpose. Some messages are retained for longer where needed for editorial records, contractual matters, legal requirements or the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.

How long we keep information

We do not keep personal information for longer than we need it.

Different types of information have different retention requirements.

Technical and security logs are retained for a limited period unless they need to be kept for longer to investigate a technical, security, legal or abuse-related issue.

Google Analytics information is retained according to the retention settings configured for our Google Analytics property and Google’s applicable systems and policies.

Some aggregated statistical information remains available for longer where it no longer relates to an identifiable visitor.

Email correspondence is retained according to the reason for the correspondence and whether it remains useful or necessary.

Who we share information with

We do not sell your personal information.

Information is processed by organisations that provide services required to operate the website. These include:

• Website hosting and infrastructure providers
• Security and technical service providers
• Google, where you consent to Google Analytics or where Google advertising services are used
• Affiliate networks and retailers when you choose to follow an affiliate link
• Other service providers where required for a feature you choose to use

These organisations have their own legal and contractual responsibilities concerning the information they process.

International transfers

Some companies used by the website operate internationally.

As a result, information is transferred to or processed in countries outside the United Kingdom in some circumstances.

Where UK data protection law requires safeguards for an international transfer, the relevant transfer must use an appropriate legal mechanism.

Your rights

UK data protection law gives you rights over your personal information.

Depending on the circumstances, these include the right to:

• Ask for access to personal information held about you
• Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Ask for personal information to be deleted
• Ask us to restrict how information is used
• Object to certain processing
• Receive certain information in a portable format
• Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent

You will not normally have to pay to exercise these rights.

Some rights depend on the circumstances and do not apply to every type of processing.

If you make a request, we may need enough information to confirm your identity and identify the information concerned.

To exercise your rights, contact [email protected].

Complaints

If you have concerns about the way we handle your personal information, contact [email protected] so we have an opportunity to investigate.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK’s independent data protection regulator.

Information about your rights and making a complaint is available on the Information Commissioner’s Office website at ico.org.uk.

Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect information processed through the website.

These measures include appropriate website, server and account security.

No website, storage system or internet transmission offers absolute security, so we cannot guarantee that information will never be accessed, disclosed, altered or lost without authorisation.

Children

This is a general-interest editorial website and we do not intentionally collect personal information from children through accounts or membership services.

If you believe a child has provided personal information directly to us and you would like us to review or remove it, contact [email protected].

Changes to this policy

We update this Privacy and Cookie Policy when the website changes the services it uses, introduces new features or when legal or regulatory requirements change.

The latest version will be published on this page with an updated revision date.

Contact

For questions about this policy, your privacy, cookie choices or your data protection rights, contact [email protected].