Driftbound — Privacy Policy

This is the privacy policy for the mobile game Driftbound (“the app”, “the game”), published by Ed Rackham (“we”, “us”).

The short version

Driftbound is playable fully offline and requires no account, no email and no real name. There are no ads. Two optional features involve data: Google Play Games (cloud saves and achievements, on Android) and our own online layer that lets you see and interact with other pilots. You can turn either off at any time in Settings.

The optional online layer

Driftbound includes an optional online layer. New installs start fully offline and send nothing; you opt in via a one-time in-game invite or in Settings, and can turn it off again at any time. (Players who installed before version 1.2.14 keep the setting they already had.) When it is enabled, the game connects to our server so other players can see you, and we collect and store:

• An anonymous identifier and your call-sign. A random ID is created the first time you connect. Your call-sign is generated by the game from a fixed word list — you do not type it, so it is not personal information and contains no user-written text.
• Your public pilot profile, shown to other players: ship statistics, your current in-game location (a star system or station — not your real-world location), equipped pets, outfit, earned trophies, and your friendly-duel win/loss record.
• Your IP address, captured by our server to run the service and prevent abuse. This is stored for us only and is not shown to other players.
• Your game progress (save state — inventory, location, ship, skills, credits), uploaded so our server holds a copy. This is stored for us only and is not shown to other players.

We do not collect any real name, email, phone number, contacts, photos, messages, files, browsing history, or precise/GPS location. Data in transit is encrypted (HTTPS).

Cloud saves and achievements (Google Play Games)

On Android, Driftbound uses Google Play Games Services so your progress can be backed up to your own Google account and your achievements appear on your Play Games profile. This is on by default and can be switched off in Settings › Cloud saves.

• Your cloud save is written to your own Google Drive application data folder, which is private to you and to this app. We cannot see it and it never reaches our servers. It holds the same game progress the app already stores on your device.
• Your achievements — which ones you have earned, and how far along you are — are held by Google against your Play Games profile.
• Your Play Games identity. We never receive your email address or real name. The app reads only your Play Games display name, and only to show it on the Settings screen of your own device; it is never stored and never uploaded.

Google’s handling of this data is governed by the Google Privacy Policy, not by us. Turning cloud saves off stops the app backing anything up; the copy already in your Google account stays until you remove it, which you can do from Google Play Games (Settings › Delete Play Games account data).

No chat, no user content

We do not sell your data. There is no chat or messaging and no user-generated content: player interactions are limited to preset “waves” and friendly ship duels. The game is fully playable with the online layer turned off or unreachable.

Your choices and rights

• New players start with the online layer off and are asked once, in-game, with this data summary shown — nothing is uploaded unless you accept it (or switch it on in Settings).
• Turn the online layer off in Settings at any time — this stops all uploads.
• Turn cloud saves off in Settings › Cloud saves at any time — this stops the app writing to your Google account. The game keeps working exactly as before; only the backup stops.
• “Do Not Disturb” keeps you visible but blocks incoming waves and duels.
• You can ask us to delete your online profile (including the stored IP address and save state) by emailing the address below. Under UK/EU GDPR you also have rights of access, rectification, erasure and objection — email us to exercise them.

Purchases and ads

Driftbound is a one-time paid download. There are no in-app purchases and no ads of any kind — no banners, no interstitials, and no opt-in rewarded video. The purchase price is the only money the game ever asks for.

Children

The app is not directed at children and is not part of any “Designed for Families” programme. It is rated 9+ (Apple) and carries the corresponding IARC age rating on Google Play. It is not intended for children under 13.

Changes to this policy

If this policy changes we will update the “Last updated” date above and post the new version at the same URL.

Contact

Questions about this policy, or to request deletion of your data? Email ed.rackham19@gmail.com.