This Privacy Policy explains how Northeld Ltd ("Northeld", "we", "us", "our") collects, uses and protects your information when you play Northeld (the "Game") on iOS and Android. Northeld Ltd is the data controller responsible for your personal data.
The short version
- We don't show ads and we don't sell your data.
- You can play anonymously; creating an account (email) is optional and only used to back up and recover your progress.
- We use Firebase for analytics & crash reports, PlayFab (Microsoft) for cloud saves, and Apple / Google for purchases.
- You can ask us to delete your data any time at info@northeld.com — see How to delete your data.
I.Who we are
Northeld Ltd is a company registered in England & Wales (company no. 11050315). You can contact us about privacy at info@northeld.com, or by post at Northeld Ltd, 88 Peterborough Rd, Fulham, London, SW6 3HH, United Kingdom. We are the "controller" of your personal data under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
II.What we collect, why, and our legal basis
We collect only what we need to run the Game. The table below also mirrors the categories shown on the Apple App Store and Google Play data-safety labels.
| Data | Why we use it | Lawful basis |
|---|---|---|
| Account info (optional): email address, password (stored hashed), in-game username / display name | Create and recover your account; sync your saved game across devices | Performance of a contract; consent (you choose to create an account) |
| Identifiers: a device identifier, your PlayFab player ID | Back up your progress to the cloud even if you don't create an account | Legitimate interests (providing reliable cloud backup); contract |
| Game & save data: progress, settings, language preference | Save and restore your game locally and in the cloud | Contract; legitimate interests |
| Purchases: records of in-app purchases and subscription status (not your card number) | Deliver and restore purchases, prevent fraud, provide support | Contract; legal obligation (tax & accounting records) |
| Analytics & usage (Firebase Analytics): in-game events, device model, OS version, language, approximate region (from IP), app-instance ID | Understand how the Game is used so we can improve and balance it | Legitimate interests; consent where required (e.g. UK/EEA) |
| Crash & diagnostics (Firebase Crashlytics): crash logs, device state, diagnostics | Find and fix bugs and stability problems | Legitimate interests |
| Notifications: your notification permission status | Send on-device reminders when timers (building, training, research) finish | Consent (you grant the permission) |
We do not collect precise GPS location, your contacts, photos, microphone audio, or health data. Notifications are scheduled locally on your device and do not, by themselves, send data to us.
III.How we collect it
- Directly from you — when you create an account or choose a username.
- Automatically as you play — analytics, crash diagnostics and identifiers.
- From the app stores — Apple and Google confirm your purchases and subscription status; we never receive your payment-card details.
IV.How we use your data
- Provide, save and synchronise the Game across your devices.
- Process and restore in-app purchases and subscriptions.
- Diagnose crashes, fix bugs and improve gameplay and balance.
- Prevent cheating, fraud and abuse.
- Respond to your support requests and comply with our legal obligations.
V.Who we share it with
We share data only with the service providers that help us run the Game. We do not sell your personal data and we do not share it with advertisers.
| Provider | Purpose | Their privacy policy |
|---|---|---|
| Google (Firebase Analytics & Crashlytics; Google Play billing & distribution) | Analytics, crash reporting, purchases on Android | policies.google.com/privacy |
| Microsoft (PlayFab / Azure) | Account and cloud-save hosting | privacy.microsoft.com |
| Apple (App Store billing & distribution) | Purchases and delivery on iOS | apple.com/legal/privacy |
| Unity Technologies (game engine, in-app purchasing & notification tooling) | Core game functionality | unity.com/legal/privacy-policy |
We may also disclose data where required by law, to enforce our terms, or as part of a business transfer (e.g. a sale of the Game), in which case we will tell you.
VI.International transfers
Our providers may process data outside the UK and EEA, including in the United States. Where they do, the transfer is protected by appropriate safeguards such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement (or Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses) and/or the providers' certification under the EU–US and UK Data Privacy Framework.
VII.Advertising
Northeld does not currently contain third-party advertising and does not use advertising identifiers for ad targeting. If we add optional rewarded ads in the future, we will update this Policy and, where the law requires, ask for your consent before any advertising-related data collection begins.
VIII.Children
Northeld is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. You must be at least 13 to create an account or make a purchase. If you are under 18, you should have your parent or guardian's permission before making purchases. If you believe a child under 13 has given us personal data, contact info@northeld.com and we will delete it.
IX.How long we keep it
- Local save data stays on your device until you delete the Game or clear its data.
- Cloud saves & account data are kept for as long as your account or anonymous profile exists, until you ask us to delete them.
- Analytics is retained according to Firebase's retention settings (typically up to 14 months); crash data is kept for a limited diagnostic period.
- Purchase records may be kept longer where needed for tax, accounting and legal compliance.
X.Your rights
Under the UK GDPR and EU GDPR you have the right to access, correct, erase, restrict or object to our use of your data, to data portability, and to withdraw consent at any time. To exercise any of these, email info@northeld.com and we will respond within one month.
You can also complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk (or your local EEA supervisory authority).
California residents
Under the CCPA/CPRA you have the right to know, delete and correct your personal information, and to opt out of its "sale" or "sharing". We do not sell or share your personal information as those terms are defined, and we will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights. To make a request, email info@northeld.com.
XI.How to delete your data
You can ask us to delete your account and associated data at any time:
- In the Game (recommended): open Settings → Profile → “Delete account & data” and confirm. This permanently deletes your account, cloud save and all progress — from our servers and from this device. This cannot be undone.
- By email: if you can’t use the in-game option, email info@northeld.com from the address linked to your account — or, if you play anonymously, tell us your in-game username or player ID — and we’ll delete it for you.
- On request we will delete your PlayFab account, cloud save and profile data, and ask our analytics provider to delete analytics tied to your app instance — except records we must keep by law (e.g. purchase/tax records).
- You can remove locally stored data yourself at any time by deleting the Game from your device.
This section (northeld.com/privacy#delete) is our data-deletion route for the Google Play Data safety form.
XII.Security
We rely on established providers (Google, Microsoft, Apple, Unity). Account passwords are stored in hashed form by PlayFab, and data in transit is encrypted using HTTPS/TLS. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure, but we take reasonable measures to protect your data. If a breach affects your rights, we will notify you and the ICO as required by law.
XIII.Changes to this Policy
We may update this Policy as the Game evolves or the law changes. We will post the new version here and update the "Last updated" date; we will highlight significant changes in-game or by other reasonable means. The current version always lives at northeld.com/privacy.
XIV.Contact us
Questions about this Policy or your data? Email info@northeld.com or write to Northeld Ltd, 88 Peterborough Rd, Fulham, London, SW6 3HH, United Kingdom.