Privacy Policy
Word Defense is developed by Matthew Morgado ("we", "us"). This policy explains what information the game handles and why. The short version: the game creates an anonymous account for you, stores your game progress in the cloud so you don't lose it, and collects a small amount of gameplay analytics. We don't run ads, we don't sell data, and we don't ask for your real name.
Information we collect
- Anonymous account identifier. When you first open the game, Unity Gaming Services (operated by Unity Technologies) creates a random player ID for your device. No email, name, or phone number is required to play.
- Display name. The nickname you choose (or the one generated for you), shown to other players you play with. It doesn't need to be your real name.
- Game progress and activity. Your matches, moves, statistics, gold and experience, unlocked items, friends list, and rating are stored with Unity Cloud Save so your progress follows your account.
- Optional account backup. If you choose "Back Up Progress", your game account is linked to a Unity Player Account sign-in (which may use an email or a third-party sign-in you control). This is optional; the game is fully playable without it.
- Analytics (only if you allow it). The first time you open the game we ask whether you want to share anonymous usage data. If you say yes, Unity Analytics collects basic usage data (sessions, device model and OS version, app version) and gameplay events: which tutorial steps you reach, matches started, finished and left, which modes you pick and how long matchmaking takes, Daily Puzzle attempts, notification permission and taps, and rewards earned and spent. We never collect the words you play or anything you type. We use this to understand whether the game is fun and working - not to profile you. You can change your answer at any time in Settings > Share usage data; turning it off stops collection immediately, and deleting your account asks Unity to erase the events already collected.
- Push notification token. If you allow notifications, Firebase Cloud Messaging (operated by Google) issues a device token we store so we can tell you it's your turn. Declining notifications doesn't affect gameplay.
- Crash and error reports. If the game crashes or hits an internal error, Unity Diagnostics sends us a technical report: the error and where in the code it happened, your device model, operating system version, and the game version. It contains no gameplay content, no words you played, and it is not linked to your display name. We use it only to find and fix bugs, it is not shared with anyone else, and it is kept for no more than 90 days and then deleted. This is sent automatically, because a crash is exactly the moment a settings toggle cannot be reached.
- Feedback you choose to send. During the beta the game may offer you a short survey: four ratings and an optional comment box. Whatever you write is stored with your player account, along with the app version and platform, and it goes to us alone - it is never shown to another player. If you allowed analytics, the four ratings are also sent as an ordinary usage event; the text you write never is. The survey is skippable, the comment is optional, and you are asked only once.
What we don't do
- No advertising, and no advertising trackers.
- No selling or renting of your information to anyone.
- No access to your contacts, photos, location, or microphone.
- No public exposure of your data beyond what other players see in-game (your display name, player card, level, and match results with people you play).
Service providers
The game runs on two infrastructure providers, acting as processors on our behalf:
- Unity Technologies (Unity Gaming Services: authentication, cloud save, matchmaking, analytics, crash and error reporting) - Unity's privacy policy.
- Google (Firebase Cloud Messaging for push notifications) - Google's privacy policy.
Data retention and deletion
Game data is kept while your account is active. You can delete your account and its data yourself at any time from inside the game: open Settings > Delete account. This erases your progress, ratings, friends and match history and removes your sign-in record immediately; it cannot be undone, and the next launch starts as a new player.
If you can no longer open the game, email [email protected] with your display name, and we will remove your cloud data within 30 days.
Children
Word Defense is not directed at children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.
Changes
If this policy changes materially, we'll update this page and note the new effective date above.
Questions? [email protected] · playworddefense.com