Really didn't want to have to do this. I have loved this game since the beginning.
Unfortunately, this game has been affected by Take-Two and 2K games (including Gearbox & Rockstar Games) silently updating all their games' Terms of Service, turning this game as well as all of their other games into software capable of data farming. Additionally, their Privacy Policy mentions sharing data with ad networks and marketing analytics; it is very explicit that they intend to farm data from you and use it for frivolous monetary gain.
***While Take‑Two disclaims using "spyware", they explicitly reserve broad permissions to monitor, record, store, and analyze user data: including voice, gameplay, and profiles. That’s not spyware in the "deliberately malicious" sense, but it’s still sweeping surveillance capability permitted by legal provisions you agree to.
[READ BELOW for more about Take-Two's update statement regarding the issue]
Important Info in Terms of Service:
• Unsanctioned mods can be a bannable offense (depending on their arbitrary definition of bannable mods)
• Display of Cheats/Exploits is bannable
• Forced arbitration clause and a waiver of class action and jury trial rights for all users residing in the United States and any other territory other than Australia, Switzerland, The United Kingdom, or The Territories of The European Economic Area
• You can be banned for using a VPN while connecting to online servers
• Cannot access game content on a Virtual PC
Collected Data Types:
• Identifiers / Contact Information: Name, user name, gamertag, postal and email address, phone number, unique IDs, mobile device ID, platform ID, gaming service ID, advertising ID (IDFA, Android ID) and IP address
• Protected Characteristics: Age and gender
• Commercial Information: Purchase and usage history and preferences, including gameplay information
• Billing Information: Payment information (credit / debit card information) and shipping address
• Internet / Electronic Activity: Web / app browsing and gameplay information related to the Services; information about your online interaction(s) with the Services or our advertising; and details about the games and platforms you use and other information related to installed applications
• Device and Usage Data: Device type, software and hardware details, language settings, browser type and version, operating system, and information about how users use and interact with the Services (e.g., content viewed, pages visited, clicks, scrolls)
• Profile Inferences: Inferences made from your information and web activity to help create a personalized profile so we can identify goods and services that may be of interest
• Audio / Visual Information: Account photos, images, and avatars, audio information via chat features and functionality, and gameplay recordings and video footage (such as when you participate in playtesting)
• Sensitive Information: Precise location information (if you allow the Services to collect your location), account credentials (user name and password), and contents of communications via chat features and functionality.
*DISCLAIMER*: T-T/2K/Gearbox has put out a statement regarding the misleading statements surrounding the EULA in their games:
"Take-Two generally does not seek to take action against mods that are single-player only, non-commercial, and respect the intellectual property"
(1) Take-Two Does Not Use Spyware
Take-Two does not use spyware in its games. Take-Two's Privacy Policy applies to all labels, studios, games, and services across all media and platform types such as console, PC, mobile app, and website. The Privacy Policy identifies the data activities that may be collected but this does not mean that every example is collected in each game or service.
***This sounds, to me, an awful lot like: "we won't spy on you or collect your info, we swear. BUT, we reserve the right to per the agreement, y'know, in case we ever did want to." Whether they act on the provisions outlined in their EULA or not, the provisions themselves are unethical.
