Title: GameSync Game Data Importer Author: gamesync Published: October 6, 2026 Last modified: October 6, 2026 --- Search plugins ![](https://ps.w.org/gamesync-game-data-importer/assets/banner-772x250.png?rev=3731048) ![](https://ps.w.org/gamesync-game-data-importer/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=3731048) # GameSync Game Data Importer By [gamesync](https://profiles.wordpress.org/gamesync/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/gamesync-game-data-importer.1.21.4.zip) * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gamesync-game-data-importer/#description) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gamesync-game-data-importer/#reviews) * [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gamesync-game-data-importer/#installation) * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gamesync-game-data-importer/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gamesync-game-data-importer/) ## Description **GameSync Game Data Importer** imports game data from [IGDB.com](https://www.igdb.com/)— descriptions, storylines, ratings, platforms, genres, developers/publishers, cover art, screenshots, artwork and trailers — straight into a dedicated **Game** custom post type on your WordPress site. #### Free features * **Game custom post type** (`ggdi_game`) with taxonomies for Platforms, Genres, Game Modes, Themes, Player Perspectives, Companies and Franchises. * **Search & Import** — search IGDB by name from the WP admin and import individual games with one click. * Downloads cover art and screenshots into the Media Library (cover art becomes the featured image, screenshots become a gallery), or optionally just link to IGDB’s own CDN instead of storing images locally. * Stores ratings, release date, storyline, developer/publisher, trailers (YouTube) and official/store links (Steam, GOG, etc.) as post meta. * A **Re-sync** button on every imported game re-pulls the latest data from IGDB, without overwriting fields you’ve hand-edited in WordPress since the last sync. * A `[ggdi_game id="123"]` shortcode plus an automatic, theme-overridable front- end template for a ready-to-use game page. * **Demo Content** — one click adds a full set of fictional demo posts and demo games with locally-generated placeholder art (no real IGDB calls, nothing added automatically), so you can preview a fully populated site before importing anything real. #### GameSync Pro — a separate, separately-installed plugin This (free) plugin is fully functional on its own — everything under “Free features” above has no license requirement and no time, usage or feature limit. **GameSync Pro** is a distinct, separately-sold plugin (not hosted on WordPress.org, and not bundled inside this one) with three additional features of its own: * **Bulk Import** — filter by platform, genre, minimum rating and release year, preview the matches, then import up to 500 games in one batched run, plus a “ Resync All” to refresh every game already imported. * **Scheduled Imports** — save a Bulk Import filter as a recurring background task(“ 5 games every 6 hours”, say), any number of times over for different platforms, genres or year ranges. Each run automatically skips games already imported, so a task keeps finding new matches over time. * **Game Editor** — hand-edit trailers/videos, screenshots and a download link directly on the Game edit screen, instead of only what the last import/re-sync happened to pull in. A GameSync Pro license also includes the GameSync PixelWire, GameSync Presswire, GameSync Ludexa and GameSync Nocturne themes and the GameSync Game Ratings / GameSync Related Games / GameSync Review Breakdown plugins — see [gamesyncwp.com](https://gamesyncwp.com/) for pricing and to purchase. This (free, WordPress.org-hosted) plugin is unaffected either way: everything it does on its own is listed under “Free features” above, with nothing in it disabled, time-limited or waiting on a license check. #### Getting your IGDB / Twitch API credentials IGDB’s API is provided through Twitch, so you’ll need a free Twitch developer app: 1. Log in at [dev.twitch.tv/console/apps](https://dev.twitch.tv/console/apps) with a Twitch account. 2. Click **Register Your Application**, give it any unique name, set the OAuth Redirect URL to `https://localhost` (required by the form, not actually used), and pick a Category such as “Application Integration”. 3. Open the app, copy the **Client ID**, then click **New Secret** to generate and copy the **Client Secret**. 4. Paste both into **Game Data Importer -> Settings** in your WordPress admin (or define `GGDI_CLIENT_ID` / `GGDI_CLIENT_SECRET` as constants in `wp-config.php` if you’d rather keep credentials out of the database). #### Notes and limits * IGDB enforces a rate limit of roughly 4 requests/second per API key; the plugin throttles its own requests and batches bulk imports to stay well within it. * Bulk Import runs are capped at 500 games per run — run it again with different filters to keep going. * Access tokens are cached and refreshed automatically. * Deleting the plugin (Plugins -> Delete, not a plain Deactivate) removes its own saved settings, Scheduled Imports tasks/run log, and cached data, but never touches already-imported Game posts, their images, or the taxonomy terms attached to them. This plugin is an independent, unofficial integration and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by IGDB or Twitch Interactive, Inc. ### External services This plugin connects to two third-party services, both required for its core “import game data” functionality — it will not contact either one until you enter your own API credentials and use a feature that needs them (searching, importing, or re-syncing a game; Demo Content never makes a real API call): * **IGDB’s game database API.** When you search for a game, import one, or click Re-sync, the plugin sends your search term or the game’s IGDB ID to IGDB’s API and receives back the game data (name, description, ratings, platforms, genres, cover art and screenshot URLs, etc.) shown in this description. No data about your site, your visitors, or your other content is ever sent — only the search term or IGDB ID you’re actively looking up. See [IGDB’s Content Policy](https://www.igdb.com/content-policy) and the [Twitch Developer Services Agreement](https://legal.twitch.com/legal/developer-agreement/)( IGDB’s API is provided through Twitch/dev.twitch.tv, so a Twitch developer account governs access to it). * **Twitch’s OAuth token service (id.twitch.tv).** Your Client ID and Client Secret( entered under Game Data Importer -> Settings, or defined as constants in wp-config. php) are sent to Twitch to obtain and refresh the access token IGDB’s API requires. See the [Twitch Developer Services Agreement](https://legal.twitch.com/legal/developer-agreement/) linked above. If this plugin’s Freemius-powered licensing/updates opt-in is accepted, Freemius’s own service is also contacted for license/update checks — see [Freemius’s Privacy Policy](https://freemius.com/privacy/) and the plugin’s own FAQ entry on opting in below. No API calls of any kind are made until you complete that opt-in step or enter IGDB/Twitch credentials yourself. ## Installation 1. In WordPress, go to **Plugins -> Add New -> Upload Plugin**, choose the `gamesync- game-data-importer.zip` file, click **Install Now**, then **Activate**. 2. Go to **Game Data Importer -> Settings** and enter your IGDB/Twitch API Client ID and Client Secret (see “Getting your IGDB / Twitch API credentials” above), choose whether imported games default to Draft or Publish, and whether to download images into the Media Library or just link to IGDB’s CDN. 3. Click **Save Changes**, then **Test IGDB connection** to confirm everything works. 4. Go to **Game Data Importer -> Search & Import** to import your first game, or ** Game Data Importer -> Demo Content** to preview the plugin with placeholder data first. ## FAQ ### Do I need to pay to use this plugin? No. Search & Import (search IGDB, preview, import, and the per-game Re-sync button), the Games archive and taxonomies, the front-end shortcode/template, and Demo Content are all free and fully functional with no license required. ### What’s the difference between the free version and Pro? This plugin (the free version, installed from WordPress.org) does everything listed under “Free features” in the Description tab, with no license required and nothing disabled, time-limited or waiting on a license check. **GameSync Pro** is a separate, separately-sold plugin — not bundled with or unlocked inside this one — that adds Bulk Import (filtered batch importing and “Resync All”), Scheduled Imports (save a filter as a recurring background task, with a 7-day run log), and a Game Editor meta box (hand-editing trailers, screenshots and a download link). See [gamesyncwp.com](https://gamesyncwp.com/) for pricing; it’s a separate download and a separate plugin install, with its own copy of this importer built in. ### I skipped the “opt in” screen when activating — how do I get to Account / Activate License now? The “opt in” screen you see the first time you activate this plugin isn’t just a one-time notice — it’s what connects your site to Freemius so the **Account** and** Activate License** screens can exist at all. If you skip it, those two screens are unavailable rather than locked — trying to open either one shows WordPress’s generic“ Sorry, you are not allowed to access this page.”, even for an Administrator, because the screen was never registered rather than because you lack permission. If that’s happened, go to **Plugins** in your WordPress admin, find this plugin in the list, and use the opt-in / connect-account link shown there to opt in (or reconnect) after the fact — you don’t need to deactivate or reinstall anything. One more thing worth knowing: opting in isn’t finished the moment you click through that screen — Freemius emails you a confirmation link, and Account / Activate License stay unavailable until you click it. If you opted in but it’s still not working, check your inbox (and spam folder) for that email before assuming something’s broken. ### Does Pro include the GameSync PixelWire, GameSync Presswire, GameSync Ludexa and GameSync Nocturne themes and the GameSync Game Ratings / GameSync Related Games / GameSync Review Breakdown plugins? How do I get them? Yes — they’re all included in the one GameSync Pro license, not sold separately. GameSync Pro (see the previous question — a separate plugin from this free one) has its own **Themes & Add-ons** screen once its license is active, with an Install button for each one. Themes still need a click to actually switch your site over to them — installing a theme doesn’t automatically make it your active one. ### Do I need a Twitch account? Yes — IGDB’s API is provided through Twitch. Registering a Twitch developer app to get a Client ID and Secret is free and takes a couple of minutes; see the Description tab above for the exact steps. ### Will re-importing a game create a duplicate? No. Re-importing or re-syncing a game you’ve already imported updates the existing post (matched by IGDB’s internal game ID) instead of creating a second one. If you’ve hand-edited a game’s title, description or excerpt in WordPress since the last import, re-syncing leaves that field as you wrote it. ### Can I customize the game page layout? Yes. Copy `templates/single-ggdi_game.php` from the plugin into your active theme and edit it — WordPress automatically uses your theme’s copy instead of the plugin’s default. ### What happens to imported games if I deactivate or delete the plugin? Deactivating changes nothing. Deleting the plugin (Plugins -> Delete, not a plain Deactivate) removes its own saved settings, Scheduled Imports tasks/run log, and cached data, but never touches already-imported Game posts, their images, or the taxonomy terms attached to them — remove those manually via **Game Data Importer- > All Games** if you want a clean slate. ### What happens to Pro features if my GameSync Pro license lapses? This only concerns the separate GameSync Pro plugin discussed above, not this free one. Within that separate plugin: anything already created with a Pro feature (games imported via Bulk Import, fields filled in via the Game Editor) is left exactly as it is. Only creating _more_ of it is unavailable again until the license is reactivated. ## Reviews There are no reviews for this plugin. ## Contributors & Developers “GameSync Game Data Importer” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ gamesync ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/gamesync/) * [ Freemius ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/freemius/) [Translate “GameSync Game Data Importer” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/gamesync-game-data-importer) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/gamesync-game-data-importer/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/gamesync-game-data-importer/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/gamesync-game-data-importer/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/gamesync-game-data-importer/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 1.21.4 * No changes to the free plugin’s features in the releases between 1.20.16 and 1.21.4 — those updates were to the separate Pro edition (its Game Editor, bundled themes and plugins). The version number is kept in step with it. #### 1.20.16 * Added: export your games catalog to CSV or XLSX — Title, Platform, Genre, Release Date, Developer, Publisher, Rating, Steam link, GOG link, Download link and IGDB ID. Use the new Export screen for the whole catalog, or the “Export to CSV” /“ Export to XLSX” bulk action on the Games list for just the games you select. XLSX requires the PHP Zip extension; CSV always works. #### 1.20.15 * Fixed (WordPress.org review): the Freemius-generated free build still shipped this plugin’s internal `README.md` changelog and the orphaned `assets/game-editor. js` — the `@fs_premium_only` tag only listed `includes/pro/`, and Freemius strips exactly what’s listed, nothing more. Added both to the tag. #### 1.20.14 * Fixed (WordPress.org review): License-section markup and the “PRO” badge/placeholder- screen/AJAX-error helpers for Bulk Import, Scheduled Imports, the Game Editor and the bundled installer lived in shared, free-tier code, gated at runtime by a Pro-codebase-present check. That worked, but the text itself still existed in the free build’s source, unused inside a dead branch. Moved into `includes/ pro/` instead, so it no longer exists in the free build’s source at all. No behavior change on either build. #### 1.20.13 * Fixed (WordPress.org review): reworded several Description/FAQ passages (“What’s the difference between the free version and Pro?”, “Does Pro include the GameSync PixelWire…” and “What happens to Pro features if my license lapses?”, plus “Included in your Pro license”) that described Bulk Import, Scheduled Imports and the Game Editor as screens present in this plugin but showing “a description of what they do and an upgrade link rather than fully working” when unlicensed. That described the separately-sold GameSync Pro plugin’s real behavior, worded as if it were this plugin’s own — `includes/pro/` is stripped entirely from this (free) build, so none of it is present here at all. Reworded to say so plainly. #### 1.20.12 * Fixed: the “Run Now” button on a Scheduled Imports task (for testing a task’s filter, or getting an extra batch without waiting for the next tick) didn’t take the advisory lock added in 1.20.11 — clicking it at the same moment the hourly tick fired could still race, with whichever one saved last silently overwriting the other’s progress on every other task. “Run Now” now takes the same lock, and shows a friendly “try again in a moment” message if a tick is already running. #### 1.20.11 * Fixed: Scheduled Imports’ hourly WP-Cron tick had no guard against firing twice in close succession (a known WP-Cron behavior on busier sites) — two overlapping ticks could both see the same task as due, both hit IGDB a second time, and race to save the tasks option, with whichever finished last overwriting the other’s progress. `run_due_tasks()` now acquires a short-lived advisory lock (`add_option()`, atomic at the DB layer, not get-then-set) before running; an abandoned lock self- heals after 15 minutes. #### 1.0.0 – 1.20.10 * Early development through the plugin’s public rename and initial WordPress.org Plugin Check/Review cleanup: the Game custom post type and its taxonomies, Search& Import, Bulk Import and the Game Editor (moved out to the separate GameSync Pro plugin from 1.12.0, with real Freemius licensing on that separate plugin from 1.11.0), Scheduled Imports, Demo Content (free for everyone from 1.10.0), and a bundle of companion Pro themes/plugins (PixelWire, Post Ratings, Related Posts, Review Breakdown, Presswire, Ludexa) kept in sync from GameSync Pro’s own **Themes& Add-ons** screen. 1.19.0 renamed the plugin from “GameSync WP IGDB Importer” to **GameSync Game Data Importer**, with a new slug, main file, text domain, and renamed `ggdi_`/`ggdi_game` internals (does not auto-migrate pre-1.19.0 imported content). 1.20.9-1.20.10 hardened Bulk Import/Resync All/Demo Content session state against sites with a persistent external object cache (Redis/Memcached), moving it off transients onto a dedicated, cache-immune `GGDI_Session_Store`. ## Meta * Version **1.21.4** * Last updated **9 hours ago** * Active installations **Fewer than 10** * WordPress version ** 5.8 or higher ** * Tested up to **7.1.3** * PHP version ** 7.4 or higher ** * Tags * [custom post type](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/custom-post-type/)[game database](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/game-database/) [igdb](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/igdb/)[importer](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/importer/) [video games](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/video-games/) * [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/gamesync-game-data-importer/advanced/) ## Ratings No reviews have been submitted yet. [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gamesync-game-data-importer/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gamesync-game-data-importer/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ gamesync ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/gamesync/) * [ Freemius ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/freemius/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/gamesync-game-data-importer/)