1. About This Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how Digital Gods uses cookies and similar browser storage technologies on https://digital-gods.dev.

It describes why these technologies are used, which categories may be active, and how you can control your preferences at any time. This policy should be read together with our Privacy Policy.

2. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small data files stored by your browser when you visit a website. They help websites remember information such as login status, shopping cart contents, user reading preferences, and privacy consent choices.

  • Session cookies: Removed automatically when your browser session ends.
  • Persistent cookies: Stored for a defined duration or until deleted by you through your browser or consent controls.
  • First-party cookies: Set directly by digital-gods.dev.
  • Third-party cookies: Set by external services integrated into the website (such as payment gateways during checkout or embedded media players when interacted with).

Similar technologies include browser localStorage and sessionStorage, which we use to remember non-intrusive interface settings such as your preferred typography size and color theme (Obsidian, Sepia, or Parchment) inside the Digital Gods Book Reader.

3. Categories of Cookies

3.1 Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies and storage entries support functionality required for the website or a service you explicitly request. They are used for:

  • Account registration and WordPress authentication;
  • Steam OpenID 2.0 login session management and CSRF state verification (dg_steam_oid_state);
  • Maintaining secure authenticated user sessions;
  • WooCommerce shopping carts and checkout processing;
  • Hosting security, anti-bot verification, and fraud prevention;
  • Saving your cookie consent preferences (dg_cookie_consent);
  • Maintaining access to purchased digital content and your selected Book Reader display settings.

Strictly necessary cookies do not require optional analytics consent where they meet the applicable legal exemption. Disabling these cookies through browser settings may prevent sign-in, Steam license verification, shopping cart retention, or checkout functions from working properly.

3.2 Analytics cookies (Optional)

With your permission, we use Google Analytics 4 (gtag.js) to understand aggregate visitor interactions and improve website performance. Analytics helps us measure:

  • Page visits and navigation patterns;
  • Device, viewport, and browser categories;
  • Approximate visitor regions (with IP anonymization enabled);
  • Website performance, Core Web Vitals, and engagement;
  • Aggregate interactions with store and project pages.

Analytics cookies are gated by our consent management system and Google Consent Mode (analytics_storage). Optional analytics cookies are not activated unless and until you grant consent via the Cookie Banner or Cookie Settings control. You can change or withdraw your consent at any time.

3.3 Functional and external media cookies

Some features use browser storage (localStorage) to remember your reading environment preferences (such as Obsidian, Sepia, or Parchment theme and font size in the online Book Reader) or enable embedded third-party media. External media, such as embedded YouTube videos or SoundCloud audio players on our Music and Game pages, may involve third-party services that process technical data under their own privacy policies when you play them. Ordinary outbound links to external platforms do not set third-party tracking cookies on our website.

3.4 Advertising and marketing cookies

Digital Gods does not use invasive third-party behavioural advertising cookies or sell visitor browsing profiles. If Digital Gods ever introduces remarketing or optional promotional tracking technologies in the future, we will update this Cookie Inventory first and request your explicit prior consent before enabling them. Marketing consent is always separate from essential account, library, and shopping functionality.

4. Cookie Inventory

The following table identifies the cookies and browser storage identifiers deployed on https://digital-gods.dev. Individual cookies are set only when the corresponding feature (such as signing in, adding an item to the cart, or consenting to analytics) is used.

Cookie / Identifier Category Purpose Typical Duration
wordpress_logged_in_* Necessary Maintains authenticated WordPress and Digital Gods account login state 2 days (up to 14 days with Remember Me)
wordpress_sec_* Necessary Secures authenticated account sessions over HTTPS 2 days (up to 14 days with Remember Me)
wordpress_test_cookie Necessary Verifies whether the browser accepts cookies during sign-in Session
dg_steam_oid_state Necessary Short-lived CSRF and state verification token during Steam OpenID 2.0 sign-in (HttpOnly, SameSite=Lax) 10 minutes
dg_reader_prefs Necessary / Functional Stores chosen Book Reader theme (Obsidian, Sepia, Parchment) and typography settings in browser localStorage Persistent (browser local storage)
woocommerce_cart_hash Necessary Detects changes in WooCommerce shopping cart contents Session
woocommerce_items_in_cart Necessary Indicates active shopping cart items and quantity updates Session
wp_woocommerce_session_* Necessary Associates a customer or guest with WooCommerce cart and checkout session data Up to 2 days
hc_js_gate Necessary Hosting infrastructure security and anti-bot verification cookie Session / up to 1 day
dg_cookie_consent Necessary Stores your cookie consent choices (necessary, analytics, functional) 180 days (6 months)
_ga Analytics (Optional) Distinguishes analytics visitors when Google Analytics 4 is consented to Up to 2 years
_ga_HVXXD7C241 / _ga_8K8Y2VLK1W Analytics (Optional) Maintains Google Analytics 4 session state when consented to Up to 2 years

When you proceed to payment in the Digital Gods Online Store, our payment processor (Stripe) may set strictly necessary security and fraud-prevention cookies (__stripe_mid, __stripe_sid) required to process your payment safely.

5. Your Cookie Choices

When visiting our website, you can manage non-essential cookies through our consent interface:

  • Accept All: Allow strictly necessary cookies together with optional Google Analytics 4 measurement cookies.
  • Reject Non-Essential: Continue using the website with only strictly necessary cookies active. Optional analytics cookies remain blocked.
  • Customize Preferences: Choose specifically which optional cookie categories you want to allow.

Your consent is voluntary and may be changed or withdrawn at any time. Rejecting optional cookies never prevents access to our website, store, Steam sign-in, or online Book Reader.

6. Google Analytics and Consent

Where Google Analytics 4 is active, Digital Gods uses Google Consent Mode (analytics_storage: 'denied' by default) and script gating to respect your privacy choices. If you decline or do not consent to optional analytics cookies, Google Analytics cookies (_ga, _ga_*) are not placed on your device.

For additional information about Google's privacy practices, visit https://policies.google.com/privacy.

7. Third-Party Technologies

Depending on the features you use, the website integrates services from third parties, including:

  • Valve Corporation (Steam): For optional Steam OpenID 2.0 authentication and eligible game/DLC license checks;
  • Google Ireland Limited / Google LLC: For Google Analytics 4 measurement where consented to;
  • Stripe: For secure order payment processing and anti-fraud checks at checkout;
  • YouTube and SoundCloud: Where official trailers or soundtrack previews are embedded.

8. Managing Cookies Through Your Browser

Most browsers allow you to inspect, block, or delete cookies and site data through their Privacy or Security settings. Blocking all cookies (including strictly necessary session cookies) may interfere with login, shopping cart, checkout, or online reading functionality. Deleting the dg_cookie_consent cookie will cause the consent banner to appear again on your next visit.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy when website functionality, third-party integrations, or legal requirements change. We will update the revision date at the top of this page when changes are published. Where necessary, significant changes involving optional cookies will require renewed consent.

10. Contact

If you have questions about our use of cookies or your privacy preferences, contact: