ByteFall — Privacy Policy

TL;DR Summary: EmptyFishTank Studio does not collect, receive, or sell any of your personal information. All game data (such as high scores, levels, unlocks, and settings) is stored locally on your own device. The free version of the Android app shows a small ad banner from Google AdMob, which collects certain device data to serve ads; buying REMOVE ADS or FULL ACCESS turns ads off.

1. Overview

This Privacy Policy explains how EmptyFishTank Studio ("we," "our," or "us") handles information when you play ByteFall on Android (Google Play) or on PC (Steam) (the "Application"). We respect your privacy and have designed ByteFall to run on your device without accounts or servers of our own. The only outside services involved are the ad banner and in-app purchases in the Android app, described below.

2. Information Collection and Use

We do not collect any personal data or personally identifiable information (PII). When you install and use ByteFall:

We do not require you to create an account or log in.
We do not collect your name, email address, phone number, or physical location.
We do not access your device contacts, camera, microphone, or photo library.
We do not use third-party analytics or tracking services.
We do not operate any servers that receive data from the Application.

3. Local Device Storage

ByteFall uses your device's built-in local storage (such as the Android app's storage, or the game's save data on your PC) solely to save your gameplay progress. This includes:

High scores, game statistics, and your level.
Unlocked achievements, exploits, themes, fonts, and music tracks.
Audio, haptic, and gameplay configuration settings.
Which purchases you own (REMOVE ADS, FULL ACCESS), as Google Play last reported them, so the game opens with them applied.

This data remains on your device and is never transmitted to us or to any external server. You can clear or delete this local data at any time by clearing the Application's storage in your Android device settings, deleting the game's local files on your PC, or uninstalling the Application.

4. Advertising

The free version of the ByteFall Android app displays a small banner ad served by Google AdMob (Google LLC). To show, measure, and limit ads, and to prevent fraud, AdMob may collect and process information from your device, such as:

Your device's advertising ID (Android Advertising ID).
Your IP address and approximate (coarse) location derived from it.
Device and app information, such as device model, operating system, language, and app version.
Interactions with ads, such as views and taps.

This information is collected by Google directly, under Google's Privacy Policy; EmptyFishTank Studio does not receive it. You can learn how Google uses information from apps that use its services at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.

Where the law requires it (for example, in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland), the app asks for your consent before personalized ads are shown, and you can change your choice later. On Android you can also reset or delete your advertising ID, or opt out of personalized ads, under Settings → Privacy → Ads. Purchasing REMOVE ADS or FULL ACCESS turns the ad banner off.

The Steam version of ByteFall does not show ads.

5. In-App Purchases

The Android app offers optional purchases (REMOVE ADS and FULL ACCESS) through Google Play Billing. Payments are handled entirely by Google Play; we never see or store your payment details. Google tells the app which purchases you own, so that they can be applied and restored on your device.

6. Steam

The PC version of ByteFall is sold and distributed through Steam (Valve Corporation). Your purchase, your Steam account, and Steam's own features (such as achievements, playtime, or Steam Cloud saves, where the game uses them) are handled by Valve under the Steam Privacy Policy. EmptyFishTank Studio may see the aggregate, non-identifying sales and usage reports that Steam provides to developers, but does not receive your personal information.

7. Third-Party Platform Distribution

If you download ByteFall through the Google Play Store or Steam, those platform providers (Google LLC or Valve Corporation) may collect standard platform-level telemetry, crash reports, or download metrics governed by their own respective privacy policies. The Application itself contacts no servers other than the ad and purchase services described above. EmptyFishTank Studio does not receive or store personally identifiable information from these platforms.

8. Children's Privacy

ByteFall is not directed at children under the age of 13, and EmptyFishTank Studio does not knowingly collect personal information from children. We do not collect personal information from any user. Ads in the Android app are served by Google AdMob under Google's policies, including its policies for apps and users subject to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). If you are a parent or guardian and have any questions, please reach out to us at the email address below.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

If we update ByteFall in the future with features that alter how data is handled, we will update this Privacy Policy accordingly and revise the "Effective Date" at the top of this page.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, feedback, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or the ByteFall Application, please contact EmptyFishTank Studio at:

Email: emptyfishtank.studio@gmail.com