Privacy Policy
Effective date: October 5, 2026
The short version: The Fort is a single-player game with no accounts. We never ask for your name, email or location. Your progress lives on your device. The app shows ads from Google AdMob, sells optional in-app purchases through Apple (managed with RevenueCat), and sends anonymous gameplay statistics that are not linked to you.
This policy covers the iPhone app "The Fort: Last Stand" and the web version at josh17400.github.io/the-fort (together, "the game"). The game is made by an independent developer, Joshua Patterson ("we", "us").
What we do not collect
We do not ask for or collect your name, email address, phone number, contacts, photos, precise or approximate location, or any account login. There is no chat and no user-generated content.
Data stored on your device
Your save (campaign progress, upgrades, research, settings, medals and gems) is stored locally on your device in the app's storage. It stays on your device unless you use iCloud sync (below). Deleting the app deletes this data. You can also reset your progress at any time in Settings.
Anonymous gameplay analytics
To learn which parts of the game are too hard, too easy or confusing, the game sends anonymous gameplay events to our own server (a Cloudflare Worker with a Cloudflare D1 database). Examples: a session started or ended, a run started or ended (theater, wave reached, what ended it, duration), an Armory upgrade or research project started, a theater cleared, a store page viewed, an ad offered or watched, and whether a purchase attempt succeeded (which pack, not any payment details).
- Each install gets a random install ID made by the game. It is not your Apple ID, device ID or advertising ID, and it is replaced if you reinstall the app.
- The events include the platform (iOS or web) and the app version. They do not include your name, email, IP address, device identifiers or advertising identifiers, and our server does not store IP addresses.
- This data is not linked to your identity, is not used for tracking or advertising, and is never sold. It is used only to improve the game and is deleted periodically.
Advertising (Google AdMob)
The free game shows ads from Google AdMob: optional rewarded ads you choose to watch (for example for free gems), and occasional full-screen ads between runs. Buying "Remove Ads" turns off the full-screen ads.
- On iPhone, the app asks for permission through Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt. If you allow it, Google may use your device's advertising identifier (IDFA) to show more relevant ads. If you decline, the IDFA is not shared and ads are non-personalized.
- Where the law requires it (for example in the UK and the EEA), Google's consent form (UMP) asks for your choices before any ads load.
- Google may collect device and usage information (such as IP address, device type, ad interactions and diagnostics) to serve ads, measure them and prevent fraud. See how Google uses information from apps that use its services and Google's Privacy Policy.
- You can change the tracking choice any time in iPhone Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking.
In-app purchases (Apple and RevenueCat)
Purchases are made through Apple's App Store; we never see your payment details. We use RevenueCat to validate purchases and restore them. RevenueCat receives the purchase receipt, the products bought and an anonymous app user ID created for the purchase system. See the RevenueCat Privacy Policy and Apple's Privacy Policy.
Game Center
If you are signed in to Apple Game Center, the game reports your daily challenge score to the leaderboard and unlocks achievements. Your Game Center nickname and scores are handled by Apple under Apple's privacy policy and can be seen by other Game Center players according to your Game Center settings. We do not receive your Apple ID.
iCloud save sync
On iPhone, the game keeps a copy of your save in your own iCloud account (iCloud key-value storage) so your progress follows you to your other devices. This copy is stored by Apple in your iCloud account; we cannot access it. You can turn iCloud off for the app in iPhone Settings.
Notifications
If you allow notifications, the game schedules local reminders on your device (for example "research complete" or a daily reminder). They are created on your phone; no push notification service or token is used. You can turn them off in the game's Settings or in iPhone Settings.
Web version
The web version is hosted on GitHub Pages and loads fonts from Google Fonts; these services may log technical data such as your IP address under their own policies. It sends the same anonymous gameplay analytics described above and stores your save in your browser's local storage. It does not show ads or sell purchases.
Children
The game is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
Your choices and rights
- Decline tracking (ATT) or ad personalization at any time in iPhone Settings.
- Turn off notifications, Game Center or iCloud for the app in iPhone Settings.
- Reset your progress in the game's Settings, or delete the app to remove all local data.
- Because the analytics are anonymous, we cannot identify which records belong to you. For any privacy request or question, contact us below.
Data sharing
We do not sell personal information. Data is shared only with the service providers named above (Google AdMob, RevenueCat, Apple, Cloudflare) to run the game.
Changes
If we change this policy, we will update this page and the effective date above.