GameSphere Privacy Policy
Last updated: September 16, 2026
Product: GameSphere for iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS (com.moonlight.gamesphere)
Contact: GameSphere-Source issues
GameSphere streams games from your PC (Sunshine or Apollo) and organizes a cover-art library on Apple devices. This policy describes what the app actually does — not a generic template.
We do not operate a GameSphere account server. We do not sell personal information. We do not include advertising SDKs, analytics SDKs, or tracking pixels. The App Store privacy manifest sets NSPrivacyTracking to false.
1. Information on your device
Stored locally (and, if you use Apple’s iCloud Key-Value Storage, merged across your devices):
- Streaming settings (resolution, bitrate, frame pacing, on-screen controls)
- Paired-host credentials (Moonlight/Sunshine pairing secrets stay on device)
- Library cache (game names, cover URLs, your artwork/rating edits)
- Shortcuts, launch URLs, and quota counters for Free / Shortcuts+ / Pro
- Optional in-app profile (display name, avatar choice)
- Optional Steam / RetroAchievements session tokens you enter
Delete the app to remove on-device data. iCloud copies follow Apple’s iCloud controls.
2. Permissions we actually request
These match the shipping iOS Info.plist usage strings:
| Permission | When it is used |
|---|---|
| Local Network | Bonjour (_nvstream._tcp) discovery of Sunshine/Apollo, pairing, and the game stream itself. |
| Microphone | Co-op party voice and GameSphere Mic (phone mic → host PC). Off until you turn those features on. |
| Bluetooth | Compatible accessories (e.g. Citrix X1 mice). Controllers generally use Game Controller framework, not this prompt. |
| Face ID | Pro family rating-filter lock, so a child cannot raise the ESRB cap without you. |
Background mode is audio only (keep stream/game audio alive). We do not declare camera on the shipping iOS app.
Local HTTP to your PC is required for pairing. The app allows local-network loads for that reason; game-stream video uses the Moonlight protocol (TLS/encrypted session as Sunshine provides).
3. Features that send data off the device
Nothing here is used for advertising. Optional features stay off until you use them.
3.1 Game metadata (library art)
To show covers, summaries, genres, ESRB badges, and platform logos, GameSphere may send game titles (and Steam App IDs when known) to:
- IGDB (Twitch) — IGDB legal. Auth uses an app-level Twitch client credential, not your Twitch account.
- SteamGridDB — artwork search for titles you already have. See SteamGridDB privacy.
- Apple App Store lookup — only for iOS app tiles you add.
We do not send your name, email, or Apple ID to these metadata services.
3.2 Steam (optional)
If you sign in with Steam OpenID, GameSphere reads public profile, playtime, friends-in-game, and achievements for titles already on The Sphere. That uses Steam Community / Steam Web API. You may paste your own Web API key in Settings. Steam does not launch games from the phone. See Steam Privacy.
3.3 RetroAchievements (optional)
If you enter a RetroAchievements username and web API key, GameSphere fetches achievement progress for matching games. See RetroAchievements. This never blocks Play.
3.4 Sunshine / Apollo / Companion (your PC)
Pairing, library publish, Wake-on-LAN, join-PIN, co-op state, and GameSphere Mic talk to your host (and the free Companion Tool on that PC). That traffic stays on your LAN, your mapped ports, or a VPN you install (see ZeroTier below). GameSphere Inc. does not receive the stream.
3.5 Co-op voice
Party voice is a live UDP mix among devices in the shared session (port 48020 on the host path). GameSphere does not record voice, does not store voice, and does not upload voice to a GameSphere server. Mute and level live in Share / Sound.
GameSphere Mic (Pro) sends your phone mic to a PipeWire virtual capture device on the host so Steam / Discord / games can pick GameSphere Mic. That audio is for the PC you paired — not for us.
3.6 ZeroTier / remote play
GameSphere does not operate ZeroTier. If you install ZeroTier (or Tailscale) and join the same network as the PC, the app detects overlay IPs (10.147.x / 100.x) and prefers that path instead of router port forwards. VPN provider policies apply to that traffic.
3.7 Apple services
Sign in with Apple ID is used by the App Store for Shortcuts+ (auto-renewable, $3/mo) and Pro ($15 lifetime). Receipts, billing, Family Sharing (Pro), and refunds are handled by Apple. iCloud Key-Value Storage can merge settings and quota counters so reinstalling cannot zero a higher count.
3.8 Diagnostics
We do not ship a third-party crash/analytics SDK. If you use Report a problem, that opens the public GitHub issues tracker. Only include what you choose to type.
4. What we do not collect
- No advertising identifiers, no ATT tracking, no ads
- No analytics or telemetry SDKs (no Firebase, Amplitude, Mixpanel, Sentry, etc.)
- No GameSphere cloud account, no GameSphere email list
- Voice is not recorded by GameSphere
- We do not sell, rent, or share personal information for cross-app advertising
5. Children, families, and COPPA
GameSphere is a general-audience streaming launcher. It is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
How families actually use it: kids in a household may play on a parent’s Apple ID, via Family Sharing on Pro, or as a guest on a gamesphere://join invite. Guests do not pay. Guests see only the titles you share. Hosts can cap titles with the family rating filter; Pro can lock that cap behind Face ID / device passcode.
Optional Steam and RetroAchievements sign-in belong to the person who owns those accounts — do not enter a child’s third-party credentials.
If you believe we have collected personal information from a child, open an issue on the contact link above and we will delete what we control (on-device data is deleted by removing the app on that device).
6. Retention
| Data | Retention |
|---|---|
| On device | Until you clear library/settings or delete the app |
| iCloud KVS | Until you delete it in iCloud or the app data |
| IGDB / SteamGridDB / Steam / RA | Governed by those services; we do not run their stores |
| Voice | Not retained by GameSphere |
| Apple IAP | Apple’s billing records |
7. Your choices
- Skip Steam, RetroAchievements, voice, Mic to PC, and iCloud
- Revoke Local Network, Microphone, Bluetooth, or Face ID in iOS Settings
- Leave a friend’s session anytime; guests cannot quit the host’s game
- Restore or cancel purchases in Apple ID → Subscriptions (Shortcuts+) or with Restore purchases (Pro)
EEA/UK and similar regions: contact us via GitHub issues to request access or deletion of anything we control. Most GameSphere data never leaves your devices.
8. International processing
Metadata queries and optional Steam/RA calls go to those operators’ infrastructure. Apple processes IAP and iCloud. Your stream stays between your Apple device and your PC (plus any VPN you choose).
9. Changes
We will update this page and the in-app Legal copy, and bump the “Last updated” date. Material changes may also appear in What’s New.
10. Contact
Privacy and support: https://github.com/trevlars/GameSphere-Source/issues
Hosted policy: https://getgamesphere.pages.dev/privacy.html
Source offer (GPL): https://github.com/trevlars/GameSphere-Source/releases
There is no separate privacy email inbox today; the public issues tracker is the contact method we actually monitor.
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