Miner Hoversurf 2 Multiplayer Madness by Sinned Games was provided via the Curator Connect feature.
[h1]What does the product do?[/h1]
According to the Steam product page, the game offers both single and multiplayer modes. When users launch the game, a proprietary service is activated in the background along with Valve's Steam Datagram Relay (SDR).
The proprietary service handles server login, score data submission, and uploading. The backend is powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS Global Accelerator). The SDR service is responsible for integrating player data. Login, upload, and retrieval of both own and third-party player data happen from the main menu. Regardless of whether the user uses multiplayer functions or explicitly views the high score list. This behavior also occurs in single-player mode.
Another point concerns the voice chat feature included in the game. It is activated using the "V" key. Pressing the key (even accidentally) grants the Steam client system-level access to the microphone and adds an entry in the Windows system settings under Privacy & Security > Microphone.
If the game is later uninstalled, this access remains unless the user explicitly disables or deletes it. There is no separate notification about this.
Lastly, the Network Error Logging (NEL) service by Heroku and UnityCrashHandler by Unity Technologies are active.
[h1]Who operates the product?[/h1]
Developed and published by Sinned Games
[h1]Which service providers are involved?[/h1]
Sinned Games – ?
Heroku – 415 Mission Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA, 94105 USA
Valve Corporation – 10400 NE 4th St, Suite 1500, Bellevue, WA 98004 USA
[noparse]Amazon.com, Inc.[/noparse] – 410 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109-5210 USA
Unity Technologies – San Francisco, 30 3rd Street, CA 94103 USA
Heroku was acquired by [noparse]Salesforce.com, Inc.[/noparse] in 2010 for $212 million.
[h1]What data is collected[/h1]
As far as can be determined
[b]Highscores[/b]
Username, score, date, extras, rank, GUID
Data is uploaded via multipart upload
[b]Network Error Logging (NEL)[/b]
Error type, timestamp, IP, technical details
[b]Steam Datagram Relay[/b]
More information on Valve Corporation’s SDR service can be found in the official [url=https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/multiplayer/steamdatagramrelay]Steamworks documentation[/url] and in my blog post. Linked below.
[h1]Privacy Policy / Terms of Use and Opt-Out/In?[/h1]
The game collects and processes personal data (including username, score, date, rank) even in single-player mode without actively accessing the high score list. Data is also transmitted to external servers (e.g., Heroku, AWS), including automated microphone access for voice chat via Steam. Sometimes without explicit user consent or notification.
A privacy policy, clear data processing information or options for consent or objection (Opt-In/Opt-Out) are completely missing.
[h1]Can this behavior be blocked?[/h1]
Users who can do without high scores and multiplayer features can block everything. It's recommended to monitor the system’s privacy settings and disable any unnecessary and not used services.
[h1]Additional Info[/h1]
For additional details such as a full connection overview for blocking connections and involved IPv4 addresses, Company,- and service details, a German version of the review can be found as usual at [url=https://gameindustry.eu/]GameIndustry[/url]. If interested, join the [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/penguindome]Penguin Domination[/url] group to ensure you don't miss any reviews on Steam.
