Privacy Policy — Synapse
Effective date: September 4, 2026
This policy explains what information Synapse ("the App"), developed by Disquiet Studio ("we", "us"), collects, how it's used, and the choices you have. It is written to accurately reflect what the App's code actually does — nothing here is generic boilerplate.
Information We Collect
Account identifier (Sign in with Apple)
If you choose to sign in, the App uses Sign in with Apple to create an account. Apple's sign-in prompt may offer to share your name and email address with us, but the App does not read or store either value — only Apple's identity token is used, solely to establish a Firebase Authentication session. That session gives your account a random, stable identifier (a "UID") that is not derived from your name, email, or Apple ID. We do not collect, see, or store your name or email address.
Profile information you enter
If you set up a profile, you may optionally enter:
- A display title
- A username
- A selection from a preset list of avatar icons (no photo upload)
These are stored under your account's UID in our database. You control this content and can change or clear it at any time from the Profile screen.
Leaderboard and public profile
When you're signed in, the App lists you on a global leaderboard that other players can see. Your public entry contains only: your display title, your chosen avatar icon, your lifetime in-game cash earned, how many maps you've cleared, and which in-game achievements (Spore Beacons) you've collected. Your username, email address, and account identifiers are never shown to other players. Player-entered names pass through a profanity filter. Deleting your account (Profile -> Delete Account) also removes your leaderboard entry.
Gameplay progress
To sync your progress across devices when signed in, we store:
- Whether you've played before
- Which maps you've beaten
This progress data is linked to your account UID, not to any personal identifier.
Usage analytics
The App uses Google Analytics for Firebase to understand how the game is played. This collects app-usage events (app opens, sessions, which map was selected, waves reached, victories and defeats, whether the map unlock was purchased, and whether an ad reward was claimed) along with general device information (device model, OS version, country-level region) tied to a random app-instance identifier. Analytics events are not keyed to your name or email (which we never collect), and we do not use analytics data for advertising.
Advertising (optional rewarded videos)
The App shows rewarded video ads via Google AdMob in exactly one place: after a defeat, you may choose to watch a video to continue with extra lives. Watching is always optional.
To serve and measure ads, Google may collect device identifiers, IP address (which can imply an approximate, city-level location), and ad-interaction data. On first launch the App shows Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt: if you allow tracking, Google may use your device's advertising identifier (IDFA) to show more relevant ads; if you decline, ads still work but are non-personalized and the IDFA is not accessed. You can change this any time in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking. See Google's advertising privacy information.
In-app purchase
The App offers one optional purchase ("Unlock All Maps"). Payment is processed entirely by Apple — we never see or store your payment details. The App records only that the unlock is owned (on your device, and as an anonymous analytics event), and Apple's standard Restore Purchases mechanism is used to recover it on new devices.
Information stored only on your device
Separately, the App keeps local gameplay data on your device only (using standard iOS app storage), including your best wave reached on each map and your play history. This local data is never transmitted to us or anyone else — it stays on your device and can be cleared at any time via Settings → Reset Progress, or by deleting the App.
How We Use Information
We use the information above solely to:
- Let you sign in and keep the same profile across sessions
- Sync your saved progress across your devices
- Display your chosen display title, username, and avatar within the App
- Show your public entry (display title, avatar, gameplay stats) on the global leaderboard
- Understand aggregate gameplay (analytics) so we can improve the game
- Show optional rewarded ads and deliver their in-game reward
We do not sell or rent any information to third parties. Advertising data is handled by Google AdMob as described above; account data is never used for advertising.
Third-Party Services
The App uses the following third-party services to operate:
- Apple Sign in with Apple — for authentication. See Apple's Privacy Policy.
- Google Firebase (Authentication, Cloud Firestore, and Google Analytics for Firebase) — to manage your account session, store the account data described above, and collect the usage analytics described above. See Google's Privacy Policy.
- Google AdMob — to serve the optional rewarded video ads described above. See Google's Privacy Policy and how Google uses ad data.
- Apple In-App Purchase / StoreKit — to process the optional purchase. See Apple's Privacy Policy.
The App accesses your device's advertising identifier (IDFA) only if you allow it at the App Tracking Transparency prompt, and only for ad personalization by Google AdMob.
Data Retention and Deletion
You can permanently delete your account and all associated data (profile fields and gameplay progress stored in our database) at any time from Profile → Delete Account. This action is immediate and cannot be undone. Deleting your account does not clear data stored locally on your device — use Settings → Reset Progress for that, or simply delete the App.
If you'd like to request deletion without using the in-app flow, contact us at the email below.
Children's Privacy
Synapse is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
Changes to This Policy
If we make material changes to this policy, we'll update the effective date above and, where appropriate, notify users within the App.
Contact Us
Questions about this policy or your data can be sent to: info@disquietstudio.com