Cookie Policy
Last Updated: June 24, 2026
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. Cookies are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, improve user experience, and provide information to website owners. Cookies may be "persistent" (remain on your device until they expire or are deleted) or "session" (deleted when you close your browser).
In addition to cookies, we may also use similar technologies such as web beacons, pixels, local storage, and scripts (collectively referred to as "cookies" in this policy for simplicity).
2. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for the following purposes:
- Essential Operation: To enable core functionalities such as security, network management, and accessibility. These cookies are necessary for the Platform to function and cannot be disabled.
- Preferences: To remember your preferences, such as language settings, display preferences, and cookie consent choices.
- Analytics: To understand how visitors interact with our Platform, which pages are most visited, and how users navigate through the site. This helps us improve our services.
- Advertising: To deliver relevant advertisements through Google AdSense and to measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.
- Security: To detect and prevent fraudulent activity and improve the security of our Platform.
3. Types of Cookies We Use
3.1 First-Party Cookies
These cookies are set directly by Stage Of Games™ and are used for the essential functionality of our Platform.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| cookieconsent_status | Stores your cookie consent preferences | 12 months | Essential |
| PHPSESSID | Maintains user session state across page requests | Session | Essential |
| sog_language | Remembers your selected language | 30 days | Preferences |
| sog_theme | Remembers display preferences | 30 days | Preferences |
3.2 Third-Party Cookies
These cookies are set by third-party services that we use on our Platform.
| Service | Cookie Examples | Purpose | Duration | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics (GA4) | _ga, _ga_*, _gid, _gat | Website usage analytics, visitor counting, page views | Up to 2 years | Analytics |
| Google AdSense | _gads, _gpi, IDE, DSID, test_cookie | Ad delivery, frequency capping, ad performance measurement | Up to 13 months | Advertising |
| Google Translate | googtrans, NID | Language translation functionality, user preferences | Session / 6 months | Preferences / Functional |
| Google Fonts | (API requests) | Loading web fonts for consistent typography | N/A | Functional |
4. Google AdSense and Personalized Advertising
4.1 How AdSense Works
We use Google AdSense to display advertisements on our Platform. Google AdSense uses cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to our website and/or other websites on the Internet. Google and its partners use advertising cookies to serve ads to our users based on their visit to our sites and/or other sites on the Internet.
4.2 Personalized vs. Non-Personalized Ads
Depending on your location and cookie consent choices, you may see:
- Personalized Ads: Tailored to your interests based on your browsing history (requires cookie consent).
- Non-Personalized Ads: Based on the content of the page you are viewing, not on your personal browsing history (does not require behavioral advertising cookies).
4.3 Opting Out of Personalized Advertising
You can opt out of personalized advertising by:
- Adjusting your cookie preferences in our cookie consent banner.
- Visiting Google Ad Settings to manage your ad preferences.
- Visiting www.aboutads.info to opt out of interest-based advertising from participating companies.
- Enabling "Do Not Track" in your browser settings.
5. Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to collect information about how visitors use our Platform. Google Analytics collects data such as:
- Pages visited and time spent on each page.
- Referring website or source.
- Geographic location (country/city level).
- Browser type, device type, and operating system.
- Screen resolution and language preferences.
Google Analytics data is anonymized (IP anonymization is enabled). We do not send personally identifiable information (PII) to Google Analytics. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
6. How to Manage and Control Cookies
6.1 Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit our Platform, you will see a cookie consent banner that allows you to accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can change your preferences at any time by clearing your browser cookies and revisiting our site, or by using the cookie settings panel if available.
6.2 Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to manage cookie settings. You can set your browser to refuse cookies, delete specific cookies, or alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our Platform.
Instructions for managing cookies in common browsers:
- Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data.
- Mozilla Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data.
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Cookies and website data.
- Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data.
- Opera: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies.
6.3 Do Not Track (DNT)
Some browsers have a "Do Not Track" feature that signals to websites that you do not want to be tracked. Our Platform respects DNT signals where required by applicable law. You can enable DNT in your browser's privacy settings.
7. Cookie Duration
Cookies used on our Platform have varying durations:
- Session Cookies: Automatically deleted when you close your browser (e.g., PHPSESSID).
- Persistent Cookies: Remain on your device for a set period or until manually deleted (e.g., Google Analytics cookies persist for up to 2 years).
8. Legal Basis for Cookie Use (GDPR/ePrivacy)
Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ePrivacy Directive (EU Cookie Law), we require your consent for the use of non-essential cookies. The legal basis for each category is as follows:
- Essential Cookies: Processed based on our legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) in providing a functional and secure website. These are exempt from consent requirements under the ePrivacy Directive.
- Preference Cookies: Processed based on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).
- Analytics Cookies: Processed based on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).
- Advertising Cookies: Processed based on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR).
You may withdraw your consent at any time by adjusting your cookie preferences or clearing your browser cookies.
9. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our cookie practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically.
10. More Information
For more information about how we handle your personal data, please see our Privacy Policy. For our full legal terms, please see our Terms of Service.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies and similar technologies, please contact us:
📧 Email: hello@stageofgames.com
📧 Subject: Cookie Policy Inquiry
Stage Of Games™