Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how information is handled when you use Into the Unknown: Starbound (the “game”), developed and published by MaddyTroupe. The game uses Google AdMob for advertising and Google Play Games Services for sign-in and online leaderboards.

1. Information Handled by the Game

The game does not require a separate MaddyTroupe account or ask you to provide your real name, address, phone number, or Google account password. You can play without using online leaderboards. Google services may offer sign-in according to your Google account and device settings.

The game stores the following information locally on your device:

• Mission progress, completed missions, personal-best scores, checkpoints, and saved flight state.
• Game preferences, such as music volume, sound-effects volume, and control settings.
• Ad-frequency information used to limit how often advertisements appear.
• Your game-specific Google Play Games player identifier after connecting, to associate local records with the correct profile and avoid uploading them to another player's account.

Local records are used to run the game and preserve progress. The game does not currently upload full checkpoints or flight saves to a MaddyTroupe server or use Google Play Games cloud saves.

2. Google Play Games and Leaderboards

If you use online rankings, Google authenticates your Play Games profile. The game accesses the player identifier provided by Google and retrieves leaderboard information, including player display names, scores, and ranks. Google controls the sign-in process; MaddyTroupe does not receive your Google password.

The game sends personal-best ranking records to Google Play Games Services:

• Best Pilots: the total of your best completed-mission scores.
• Top Explorers: a numeric record representing the furthest destination reached, with total best points used as a secondary ranking factor.

Records may be submitted when you connect or request an upload, and after successful mission completion while connected. Replaying a mission can improve its personal-best record, rather than adding duplicate points.

Your Play Games display name, score, rank, and reached destination may be visible to other players through public leaderboards, depending on Google's profile-visibility settings and service rules. The game also displays public ranking information belonging to other players. Google may process service activity and technical information to operate and protect Play Games Services.

You can manage sign-in and profile visibility through Google's Play Games settings. See Play Games profile privacy and other settings.

3. Advertising and Rewarded Ads

The game uses Google AdMob to show interstitial advertisements and optional rewarded advertisements. Rewarded ads may offer in-game benefits, such as reviving after a failed flight or replenishing fuel.

Google and its advertising partners may collect or process:

• IP address and approximate location inferred from it.
• Device, app, and operating-system information.
• Advertising ID, app set ID, and other applicable device or account identifiers.
• App and advertisement interactions, such as launches, taps, and video views.
• Diagnostic and performance information.

These services use information for ad delivery, measurement, analytics, security, and fraud prevention. Some information may support personalized advertising where permitted; other identifiers, such as app set ID, have more limited permitted uses. Personalization depends on applicable law, consent, age-related restrictions, device settings, and Google's configuration. Non-personalized or limited advertising does not necessarily mean that no information is processed.

Advertising privacy choices may be presented through Google's consent tools where required. When Google requires a privacy-options entry point, the game provides AD PRIVACY OPTIONS in Settings. You can also manage advertising controls through Android and your Google account. Choosing not to view a rewarded ad means the associated ad reward is not granted.

For details, see How Google uses information from apps that use its services and Google's Privacy Policy.

4. Analytics and Support

The game does not currently include a separate analytics or crash-reporting service such as Firebase Analytics. Google advertising and Play Games services may nevertheless process their own usage, diagnostic, and performance information.

If you contact us by email, we receive your email address and the information you choose to include. We use this information to respond to your request and provide support. Please do not send passwords or unnecessary sensitive information.

5. How Information Is Used and Shared

Information is used to maintain progress and preferences, associate ranking records with the correct player, operate and display leaderboards, deliver advertisements and rewards, respond to support requests, and protect services against errors, fraud, or abuse.

MaddyTroupe does not operate a separate player-account or leaderboard database for this game, and does not sell or rent player records. Ranking records are transmitted to Google, public leaderboard entries may be seen by other players, and advertising data is handled by Google and applicable advertising partners. Information may also be disclosed where legally required. Google and third-party services handle data under their own policies and applicable laws, including any processing outside your country.

6. Data Retention and Deletion

Local game data: Progress, settings, and the stored Play Games identifier remain on your device until removed or overwritten. You can remove local records by clearing the game's app storage in Android Settings. Uninstalling normally removes app-local data, although Android or device backup settings may restore it later. Starting a new mission does not erase all personal-best records.

Google-hosted records: Clearing local storage or uninstalling does not itself delete scores or profile data stored by Google. To remove this game's Play Games data or your Play Games profile, use Google's available deletion controls. See Delete your Play Games data or Play Games profile. Google explains any limitations and effects of deletion.

If local scores remain and you reconnect, the game may submit those records again. To avoid resubmission, remove the local records as well and manage the game's sign-in settings before connecting again.

Advertising and service data: Retention and deletion are governed by Google's and applicable partners' policies and controls. Support correspondence: We retain information as needed to resolve requests and meet applicable legal obligations. Contact us to request deletion of support information or assistance with game-related data. We cannot directly erase your Google account or independently control all data held by Google.

7. Security

Local records are stored in the application's data area on your device. Google handles authentication, advertising, and leaderboard communications through its services. We rely on the protections provided by Android and the service providers; no method of storage or transmission can be guaranteed completely secure.

8. Children's Privacy

The game does not ask children to provide personal contact information directly. Google sign-in, public rankings, and advertising remain subject to applicable age requirements, supervision settings, and privacy rules. This policy does not give children permission to bypass those requirements.

Parents or guardians who believe a child has provided personal information in connection with the game can contact us for assistance. Age eligibility and available service features may differ by country and Google account type.

9. Your Privacy Choices and Rights

• Play without using online leaderboards, and manage the game's Google sign-in preferences through Google's settings.
• Control Play Games profile visibility and use Google's game-data deletion tools.
• Use advertising consent or privacy options when available, and manage your Android advertising identifier and Google ad preferences.
• Clear local app storage to remove device-local game records.
• Contact us about information you have provided directly to us.

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, or object to processing of personal information, withdraw consent, or make a complaint to a relevant authority. Requests concerning Google's processing should also be directed to Google's privacy tools or support. A privacy policy is not a substitute for any consent required by law.

10. Third-Party Content and Policy Changes

Advertisements and links may lead to third-party websites or services with their own privacy practices. Please review their policies before interacting with them.

We may update this policy when the game's features, services, legal requirements, or privacy practices change. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date. Additional notices or consent will be provided where required.

11. Contact

For privacy questions, support-data deletion requests, or other concerns:

MaddyTroupe
Developer of Into the Unknown: Starbound
Email: maddytroupe@gmail.com