Privacy Policy
This policy explains what personal data the Darkest Kingdom mobile game (the "game") and the website darkestkingdom.com (the "site") collect, why we collect it, who we share it with, how long we keep it, and how you can see it, change it or delete it.
The short version
- You can play without giving us your name or email.
- We do not sell your personal data.
- Ads only play when you choose to watch one for a reward.
- You can delete your account at any time, in the game or by email.
Who we are
Darkest Kingdom is made by HeroApply Studios ("we", "us"). We are responsible for (the "controller" of) the personal data described here. Contact us any time at [email protected].
What we collect
| Data | When we get it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Player account ID (a random ID, not your name) | The first time you open the game | To create your guest account and keep your progress tied to it |
| Game progress and settings (your units, heroes, items, currency, purchases unlocked, game choices) | As you play | To save your progress to the cloud and restore it on a new phone |
| An ID for your device's copy of the game | When the game saves | To tell your devices apart if you play on more than one |
| Sign-in details, only if you link an account: the account ID from Apple, Google, Game Center or Google Play Games, and the name or email that service shares with us | When you link, and silently through Game Center or Google Play Games if you are already signed in to it on your phone | To let you recover your progress on another device. Sign in with Apple lets you hide your real email; we then only see a private relay address. |
| Purchase records: what you bought, the price, the date, and the store's transaction ID | When you buy something in the game | To deliver and restore purchases, handle refunds and stop fraud. Payments are handled by the App Store or Google Play; we never see your card or bank details. |
| Ad data: advertising ID (on iPhone only if you allow it), IP address, device model, operating system, and how you interact with the ad | Only when you choose to watch a rewarded ad | To show you the ad, count that you watched it, give you the reward, and prevent ad fraud |
| Technical data: IP address, device model, operating system and game version | When the game connects to our servers | To keep the game running, secure your account and fix problems |
| Messages to support: your email address and what you write | When you email us | To answer you |
| Email address on the site | Only if you join the launch list ("Join the Watch") | To send you one message when the game launches |
| Site visit data: IP address and browser type | When you visit the site | To deliver the site and protect it from attacks. The site uses no advertising or tracking cookies. |
What we never collect
The game does not ask for or collect your precise location, contacts, photos, files, camera, microphone, health or fitness data, messages, or browsing history.
How we use it, and our legal reasons
We use your data only for the purposes in the table above. Where data protection law (such as the GDPR in the EU and UK) asks us to name a legal reason, it is one of these:
- To provide the game you asked for (performing our contract with you): your account, cloud saves, account linking, purchases and support.
- Our legitimate interests: keeping the game and site secure, preventing cheating and fraud, and fixing problems. We only rely on this when it does not override your own rights.
- Your consent: personalized ads, tracking on iPhone, and the launch email list. You can take your consent back at any time.
- Legal duties: keeping purchase records for tax and accounting law.
We do not sell your personal data. We do not use it to make decisions about you that have legal or similarly serious effects.
Who we share it with
We share data only with the service providers that run parts of the game for us. Each one is bound by contract and by its own privacy policy to protect your data, and to use it only to provide its service, at the level of protection this policy describes.
| Provider | What it does for us | Their policy |
|---|---|---|
| Google Firebase (Google LLC) | Player accounts, sign-in and cloud saves | firebase.google.com/support/privacy |
| RevenueCat, Inc. | Records purchases so they stay on your account and can be restored | revenuecat.com/privacy |
| Apple (App Store, Sign in with Apple, Game Center) | Payments and sign-in on iPhone and iPad | apple.com/legal/privacy |
| Google (Google Play, Google sign-in, Google Play Games) | Payments and sign-in on Android | policies.google.com/privacy |
| Google AdMob (Google LLC) | Serves the rewarded ads you choose to watch | policies.google.com/technologies/ads |
| Cloudflare, Inc. | Hosts and protects the site, and stores the launch list | cloudflare.com/privacypolicy |
Google may also use ad data for its own purposes, such as measuring and improving its ads, as its own policy explains. We may also share data if the law requires it, to protect players or the game from fraud or harm, or if the game is sold or transferred to a new owner, who would then be bound by this policy.
Ads and your consent
- Ads only play when you tap to watch one for a reward. There are no banner or pop-up ads. The No-Ads Pass gives you the reward without an ad.
- On iPhone and iPad, the game asks your permission before any tracking (Apple's App Tracking Transparency). If you say no, your advertising ID is not shared, and rewarded ads still work.
- In the EU, UK and Switzerland, the game asks for your consent before showing personalized ads. If you say no, you see ads that are not based on your data.
- You can change your choice at any time from the game's settings, or reset or delete your advertising ID in your phone's settings.
How long we keep it
- Account and cloud saves: until you delete your account. A guest account that was never linked and has not been used for a long time may be removed from our servers; your progress on your phone stays.
- Purchase records: as long as tax and accounting law requires, even after you delete your account.
- Support emails: up to 2 years after your question is resolved.
- Launch list email: until the launch message is sent or you unsubscribe, whichever comes first.
- Ad and technical data: kept by our providers for the periods in their own policies.
Delete your account
In the game
Open Settings → Account → Delete account and confirm. Your account and cloud saves are deleted right away, and the game starts fresh.
Without the game
Email [email protected] with the subject "Delete my account" and your player ID (shown in Settings → Account), or the email of the Apple or Google account you linked. We confirm and delete your account within 30 days.
What is deleted, and what is kept
We delete your player account, cloud saves, linked sign-in IDs and support history. We keep only purchase records that tax law requires. Deleting your account does not cancel a subscription: cancel it in the App Store or Google Play first. If you used Sign in with Apple, you can also remove the game from your Apple ID settings.
Your rights
Wherever you live, you can ask us to:
- show you the data we hold about you, or send you a copy;
- correct it;
- delete it;
- stop or limit how we use it, or take back your consent.
Email [email protected]. We answer within 30 days, and we may ask you to prove the account is yours. If you are in the EU or UK and are unhappy with our answer, you can complain to your local data protection authority.
California residents: you have the right to know, delete and correct your personal data, and to opt out of its sale or sharing. We do not sell personal data. Personalized ads may count as "sharing" under California law; you can opt out by turning off personalized ads or tracking as described above. We will never treat you differently for using these rights.
Security
Data travels between the game and our servers encrypted. Cloud saves can only be read by the account that owns them, and only the people who run the game can reach our systems. No system is perfectly secure, but if a breach affects your data, we will tell you and the authorities as the law requires.
Data sent abroad
Our providers store and process data in the United States and other countries. When data leaves the EU or UK, they protect it with approved safeguards such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses.
Age
Darkest Kingdom is made for adults (18+) and contains mature dark fantasy themes. It is not meant for children, and we do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 18. If you believe a child has given us data, email us and we will delete it.
Changes to this policy
If we change this policy, we update the date at the top. If a change is important, we will also tell you in the game before it takes effect.
Contact
Questions, requests or complaints about your privacy: [email protected].
HeroApply Studios.