Cookie Policy

1. What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. Similar technologies include local storage, session storage, and pixels. They help sites remember preferences, keep you signed in, understand usage, and enable embedded content from partners.

This Cookie Policy supplements our Privacy Policy and applies to visitors of vortexesportsinc.com operated by Vortex Esports Inc.

2. Why we use cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep the site secure and functioning correctly
• Maintain member authentication sessions through Clerk
• Remember cart items while you browse merch before Fourthwall checkout
• Understand traffic patterns and improve performance
• Support embedded streams, Discord widgets, and social previews

3. Categories of cookies we use

Strictly necessary. Required for core features such as page navigation, security, load balancing, and sign-in session management. Because the site depends on these cookies, they cannot always be disabled without breaking functionality.

Functional. Remember choices such as dismissed banners, cart contents, or UI preferences so repeat visits feel consistent.

Analytics. Help us measure page views, referrers, and error rates so we can improve rosters, Watch, and merch flows. Where available, we prefer aggregated or de-identified reporting.

Third-party / embedded. Set by external services when you interact with embedded players, social links, authentication widgets, or checkout handoffs. Those providers may use their own cookies under separate policies.

4. Cookies by service

The following partners may set or read cookies when you use relevant features:

• Clerk — authentication, session tokens, fraud prevention, and account security when you sign up or sign in to a Vortex member account
• Fourthwall — checkout, storefront, and order-related cookies when you leave our cart flow to complete a merch purchase
• Hosting and infrastructure — cookies or edge identifiers used by our deployment platform for routing, caching, and abuse protection
• Twitch, YouTube, and other embeds — viewing history, player state, or advertising identifiers when you watch embedded streams or VODs on our Watch pages
• Discord — widget and invite-related data when Discord embeds or links are displayed

Exact cookie names and lifetimes can change as vendors update their products. Refer to each provider’s documentation for the most current details.

5. Local storage on our site

In addition to cookies, we may store data in your browser’s local storage for cart persistence, client-side preferences, and performance optimizations. Local storage remains on your device until you clear site data or we overwrite it during an update.

6. Managing cookies

You can control cookies in several ways:

• Use your browser settings to block, delete, or notify you about cookies. Most browsers provide controls under privacy or site settings.
• Sign out of your Vortex member account to end authenticated sessions tied to Clerk.
• Clear site data for vortexesportsinc.com to remove cart or preference storage.
• Adjust privacy settings on Twitch, YouTube, Discord, and other platforms when you visit them directly or through our links.

Blocking strictly necessary cookies may prevent sign-in, cart functionality, or other core features from working as intended.

7. Do Not Track and global privacy controls

Some browsers send “Do Not Track” signals. There is no uniform industry standard for responding to those signals. Where required by law, we honor applicable global privacy control mechanisms for opt-out of certain analytics or targeted advertising on properties we fully control.

8. Updates to this policy

We may update this Cookie Policy when we add features, change vendors, or update legal requirements. Check the “Last updated” date at the top of this page for the current version.

9. Contact

Questions about cookies or similar technologies can be sent to hello@vortexesportsinc.com. For broader privacy requests, see our Privacy Policy.