LEGAL
Privacy Policy - Gravity Shift: Merge Puzzle
Last updated: August 24, 2026 · Developer: nik.dev · Contact: nik.dev.acc@gmail.com
1. Overview
Gravity Shift: Merge Puzzle ("the App") is a gravity-driven number merge puzzle game for Android. We are committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what information is collected, how it is used, and your rights regarding that information.
In short:
- No account required to play: Every game mode is fully playable with no sign-in, registration, or account of any kind. An optional Google Play Games sign-in is available if you want to appear on the Daily Challenge or mode leaderboards - see Section 2.4.
- Data remains local by default: Your game progress (session, high scores, stats, settings, wallet, cosmetics, daily and challenge streaks) is stored exclusively on your device. We do not operate any server that stores your personal data.
- Third-party data collection: The only data collected about you comes from Google AdMob (ads), Firebase Analytics (gameplay usage), and, only if you choose to sign in, Google Play Games Services (leaderboards) - each described below.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information Stored Locally on Your Device
All game data is stored exclusively on your device as local files. This includes:
- Current session and board state
- High scores and gameplay statistics
- Game settings and preferences
- In-game currency (Shards) wallet, cosmetics, and power-up unlocks
- Daily login streak, Daily Challenge progress/streak, and ad-reward-cap tracking (e.g. how many rewarded ads you've watched today)
This data never leaves your device. We have no access to it, and the App has no feature to export, back up, or upload it anywhere.
2.2 Advertising Data (Google AdMob)
The App uses Google AdMob to show a rewarded video ad (optional, watched in exchange for in-game Shards), a banner ad during gameplay, and an interstitial ad shown occasionally when starting a new game.
What is collected automatically by AdMob:
| Data | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Advertising ID / device identifiers | Ad delivery, frequency capping, and measurement |
| Device model, OS version, country, and language | Ad targeting and localisation |
| App version | Track adoption of updates |
| Ad interaction events (impressions, clicks, rewarded-ad completions) | Measure ad performance |
| Install attribution (via Google Play's Install Referrer API) | Attribute an install to the ad campaign that led to it |
All ad-related data is transmitted securely to Google's servers over HTTPS and is governed by Google's Privacy Policy.
2.3 Analytics Data (Firebase Analytics)
The App uses Firebase Analytics to understand gameplay usage in aggregate. Firebase Analytics is only initialized, and no events are logged, after you grant consent through the App's consent flow (see Section 4) - the same gate AdMob itself is behind.
Once active, it automatically collects standard usage data (an anonymous analytics identifier, device model, OS version, country/language, app version, and session/engagement timing), plus these App-specific events:
| Event | What it records |
|---|---|
game_start | Which mode you started |
game_over | Mode, final score, highest tile reached, run duration |
new_best_score | Mode and the new best score |
ad_watched | Which ad placement was watched (e.g. Free Diamonds, Second Chance) |
shop_purchase | Item type/ID and its Shards price |
None of this is tied to your name, email, or any other personal identifier - the App still has no account system. Firebase Analytics is governed by Google's Privacy Policy.
2.4 Google Play Games Services (Optional Leaderboard Sign-In)
Signing in with Google Play Games is entirely optional and only used for the Daily Challenge and per-mode leaderboards - every game mode remains fully playable without it, and the App attempts a silent (non-interactive) sign-in at startup that simply does nothing if it can't complete.
If you are signed in:
- Your Play Games public profile (display name and avatar image) is shared with the App and shown next to your entries on a leaderboard.
- The App submits your score for a mode to that leaderboard under your Play Games profile.
- You will also see other players' Play Games display name and avatar image on the same leaderboards.
We do not receive your email address, real name, or any other Google Account data beyond this public Play Games profile. Play Games Services is governed by Google's Privacy Policy.
3. Device Permissions
The App requests the permissions its ad, analytics, and Play Games SDKs require to function:
| Permission | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
INTERNET | Required to request ads, send analytics events, and reach Play Games Services |
ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE | Lets the ad SDK check connectivity before requesting an ad |
AD_ID (Google Play services) | Lets AdMob use the Android Advertising ID for ad delivery and measurement |
ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID, ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION, ACCESS_ADSERVICES_TOPICS | Android's Privacy Sandbox APIs, used by AdMob for ad measurement/attribution on newer Android versions |
| Install Referrer service binding | Lets AdMob attribute an install to the ad campaign that led to it |
FOREGROUND_SERVICE, WAKE_LOCK | Used internally by the ad/audio SDKs to keep short-lived background tasks (ad loading, audio playback) running |
The App does not request access to: location, camera, microphone, contacts, phone, storage, or notifications.
4. Third-Party Services
Google AdMob (Google LLC)
- Purpose: Display the rewarded "watch ad for Shards" video, gameplay banner ad, and new-game interstitial ad
- Data sent: Device identifiers and usage data as described in Section 2.2, to serve and measure ads. You can opt out of personalized ads through your device settings under Google → Ads.
- Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Firebase Analytics (Google LLC)
- Purpose: Understand gameplay usage in aggregate (which modes are played, ad engagement, shop activity) as described in Section 2.3
- Data sent: The usage data and events listed in Section 2.3
- Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Google Play Games Services (Google LLC)
- Purpose: Optional leaderboard sign-in, score submission, and leaderboard display, as described in Section 2.4
- Data sent: Your Play Games public profile and the scores you achieve, only if you choose to sign in
- Privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
GDPR and UK Privacy Compliance (EU User Consent)
For users residing in the European Economic Area (EEA), the European Union (EU), and the United Kingdom (UK):
- The App implements Google's User Messaging Platform (UMP) to obtain explicit consent before initializing Google Mobile Ads (AdMob) and Firebase Analytics. Neither is requested until this consent flow completes.
- If consent is not granted where required, ad features (rewarded video, banner, interstitial) and analytics simply stay unavailable for that session - the App does not fall back to non-personalized ads as a workaround.
- Play Games Services sign-in (Section 2.4) is independent of this consent flow - it only ever runs if you choose to use it.
India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act)
For users residing in India, this policy is intended to serve as the notice required under the DPDP Act:
- As a Data Principal, you have the right to access, correct, and request erasure of any personal data processed about you (see Section 6 - the App holds no server-side account data to begin with).
- The personal data processed is the advertising, analytics, and (if you opt in) Play Games data described in Sections 2.2–2.4, processed by our Data Processor (Google LLC) for the purposes stated there.
- Grievances or DPDP-related requests can be raised via the contact details in Section 9.
CCPA/CPRA Privacy Compliance (California Residents)
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) / California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), California residents have the right to opt-out of the "sale" or "sharing" of their personal information (which includes device identifiers used for personalized advertising). You can manage your ad personalization settings through your device's Google settings under Google → Ads.
5. Data Retention and Deletion
Local data: Stored on your device until you delete the App or clear its data. Uninstalling the App or clearing its storage in Android system settings removes all locally stored game data immediately.
Advertising and analytics data: Retained and governed by Google's own data retention practices for AdMob and Firebase Analytics; we have no access to or control over this data.
Play Games data: If you sign in, your leaderboard scores are retained by Google Play Games Services until you remove them yourself through Google's own account tools, or until the underlying leaderboard is removed.
Account and Data Deletion Requests: We do not operate any servers that store your personal data - all game data stays on your device, and any Play Games data lives in your own Google Account, not ours. There is no account with us to delete.
6. Children's Privacy
The App does not knowingly collect any personal information from children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age in your region). The App does not collect personal information from any user beyond the advertising, analytics, and optional Play Games data described in Sections 2.2–2.4, each handled by Google under its own child-directed-treatment and consent controls.
7. Your Rights
Since the App does not collect personally identifiable information itself, most data subject rights (access, correction, deletion of personal data) apply to your local device data, which you control directly by uninstalling the App or clearing its storage, and - if you signed in with Play Games - to your Google Account, which you control directly through Google's own tools.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. For significant changes, we will notify users via a Play Store update description.
Continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
9. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy policy, please contact us:
Email: nik.dev.acc@gmail.com
Developer: nik.dev
This privacy policy was last reviewed on August 24, 2026.