Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how Vortex Studios ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses and protects personal data when you use our mobile games and apps (the "Apps"), including Crystal Match Kingdom, Aqua Match Kingdom, Throne of Shadow, Snake Battle Arena, Cannon Battle Arena and AI Selfie Puzzle, and any other app we publish that links to this policy, as well as this website.
1. Who we are
Vortex Studios is a company registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK) in the Netherlands. We are the data controller for personal data processed through our Apps under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Contact: info@vortexstudios.nl
2. Summary
- We do not sell your personal data.
- Our Apps show ads through Google AdMob and use Google (Firebase) services to measure usage and fix problems.
- Where the law requires it, for example in the EU/EEA and UK, we ask for your consent before showing personalised ads. You can change your choice at any time.
- Payments for in-app purchases are handled by Apple or Google. We never see your card details.
- In AI Selfie Puzzle, the photo you choose is sent to an AI service to create your puzzle. See section 6.
3. Data we collect
3.1 Data collected automatically
- Device and app information: device model, operating system and version, language, country or region (based on IP address), app version and settings.
- Identifiers: advertising identifiers (Google Advertising ID on Android, IDFA on iOS if you allow tracking), Firebase app instance ID and similar app-specific IDs.
- Usage and gameplay data: levels played, progress, session length, in-game events, ads viewed or clicked, and in-game purchases.
- Diagnostics: crash logs and performance data.
- IP address: this is needed to connect to our services and our partners' services.
3.2 Data you give us
- Player name and profile: a username or nickname and a chosen character or avatar, if the game asks you to create one. In multiplayer games, other players can see your player name.
- Sign-in (where offered): if you choose to sign in with Google, Apple, Facebook, Google Play Games or Apple Game Center, we receive a player ID and basic profile information, such as your display name, from that provider. We use it to save your progress and show leaderboards.
- Photos (AI Selfie Puzzle only): the photo you take or choose to turn into a puzzle.
- Support messages: your email address and anything you write to us when you contact support.
We do not ask for sensitive data such as health information, and we do not collect your precise (GPS) location.
4. How we use data, and our legal basis
| Purpose | Legal basis (GDPR) |
|---|---|
| Running the game, saving progress, multiplayer matches, leaderboards | Performance of our agreement with you (Art. 6(1)(b)) |
| Creating your AI puzzle from your photo | Performance of our agreement with you. You choose to upload the photo. |
| Showing personalised ads | Your consent (Art. 6(1)(a)), where required |
| Showing non-personalised ads, preventing ad fraud | Our legitimate interest in funding free games (Art. 6(1)(f)) |
| Analytics, crash reporting and improving the games | Legitimate interest, or consent where required |
| Processing and restoring in-app purchases | Performance of our agreement and legal obligations (tax, accounting) |
| Answering support requests | Legitimate interest / performance of our agreement |
| Preventing cheating, abuse and security problems | Legitimate interest |
5. Third-party services
We use the following partners. They process data according to their own privacy policies:
- Google AdMob (advertising): Google Privacy Policy. Also see how Google uses data from apps that use its services. AdMob may work with other certified ad partners. On first launch in the EU/EEA, UK and Switzerland, a consent screen (Google User Messaging Platform) lets you choose whether ads may be personalised.
- Google Firebase (Analytics, Crashlytics, and cloud services where used): Firebase privacy information.
- GameAnalytics (game analytics, only if you agree on the consent screen): collects anonymous usage data such as sessions, game modes played, in-game actions, device type and country, to help us improve the games. GameAnalytics Privacy Policy.
- Google Play / Google Play Games Services and Apple App Store / Game Center: downloads, payments, sign-in and leaderboards.
- Photon by Exit Games (online multiplayer in Snake Battle Arena and Cannon Battle Arena): processes your IP address, a player ID, your player name and real-time game data to connect you to matches. Photon Privacy Policy.
- Unity (game engine and, where used, Unity services): Unity Privacy Policy.
- Runware (AI image generation in AI Selfie Puzzle): runware.ai.
- Facebook Login (only if offered and you choose to use it): Meta Privacy Policy.
6. Photos in AI Selfie Puzzle
- The app only accesses your camera or photo library after you allow it, and only the photo you choose.
- Your photo is sent securely to our AI provider (Runware) to create the AI version and your puzzle. It is used only for that purpose.
- We do not use your photo for facial recognition, to identify you, for advertising, or to train AI models.
- If you share a puzzle with friends, the AI-created image in that puzzle is visible to the people you share it with.
- We keep uploaded photos and generated images only as long as needed to provide the puzzle and sharing features. You can ask us to delete them at any time (see section 10).
- Please only upload photos of yourself, or of people who have agreed to it.
7. Ads and tracking choices
- EU/EEA/UK: you can change your ad consent through the privacy or consent option in the game settings, where available, or by reinstalling the app.
- iOS: we only use your IDFA for tracking if you allow it in Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt. You can change this in Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking.
- Android: you can reset or delete your Advertising ID in Settings > Google > Ads (or Settings > Privacy > Ads).
- Analytics: on first launch, some games ask whether you agree to share anonymous usage data. If you choose "No thanks", no analytics data is sent. You can change your choice in the game settings, where available, or by reinstalling the app.
If you turn off personalised ads, you will still see ads, but they will be less relevant to you.
8. In-app purchases
Purchases are processed by Apple or Google. We receive a confirmation of the purchase (such as a transaction ID, product and date) so we can deliver and restore your items. We do not receive or store your payment card details.
9. How long we keep data
- Game progress and profile data: for as long as you use the App, and then deleted or anonymised, usually within 24 months of inactivity, or sooner if you ask.
- Analytics data: according to the retention settings of Google Analytics for Firebase (a maximum of 14 months for user-level data).
- Support emails: up to 2 years after your last message.
- Purchase records: as long as Dutch tax law requires (usually 7 years).
10. Your rights
Under the GDPR you have the right to:
- access the personal data we hold about you,
- correct or delete it,
- restrict or object to processing, including processing based on legitimate interest,
- data portability,
- withdraw your consent at any time, without affecting processing that happened before.
To use these rights, email info@vortexstudios.nl. For deletion, see our Delete Your Data page. We will respond within one month. We may ask for information such as your player ID to confirm the request is yours.
You also have the right to file a complaint with the Dutch data protection authority, the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens, or with the authority in your own country.
California and other US state residents: we do not sell your personal information. Sharing identifiers with ad partners to show personalised ads may count as "sharing" under some state laws. You can opt out by turning off ad tracking on your device as described in section 7, or by emailing us.
11. International transfers
Some of our partners, including Google, may process data outside the European Economic Area, for example in the United States. In those cases the transfer is protected by appropriate safeguards, such as the EU-US Data Privacy Framework or the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses.
12. Children
Our Apps are meant for a general audience and are not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13, or under 16 in the EU where parental consent is required. If you believe a child has given us personal data, contact us and we will delete it. AI Selfie Puzzle is intended for users aged 16 and over.
13. Security
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your data, such as encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS) and access restrictions. No online service is 100% secure, but we work to protect your information.
14. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy when our Apps or the law change. We will post the new version on this page with a new "Last updated" date, and tell you in the App when a change is significant.
15. Contact
Vortex Studios, the Netherlands
Email: info@vortexstudios.nl