Privacy Policy for Build a Planet

Last updated: 25 October 2026

Build a Planet ("the app", "we") is a single-player space colony game for iPhone made by Black Pear. This policy explains what information the app uses and why. The short version: you can play without giving us any personal information, there are no ads, and we do not track you across other apps or websites.

What stays on your phone

Your colony, your settings (such as volume, text size and planet colour) and your reminders are stored on your phone. If you never sign in and say no to analytics, this is all the app keeps, and none of it is sent to us.

Information we may collect

1. Cloud save (optional)

If you choose to sign in with Apple in Settings, the app stores your saved game online so you can restore it on a new phone. This includes your colony (buildings, colonists, resources and progress), your position in the world, and a unique account ID created by Firebase. Sign in with Apple may share your name and an email address (or Apple's private relay address) with the app. We use the account ID to keep your save separate from everyone else's, and we do not use your name or email for marketing.

2. Analytics (optional, off until you agree)

When you first open the app it asks whether you are happy to share anonymous usage statistics. If you say yes, we use Google Firebase Analytics to see how the game is played, for example which buildings are built, how far players get and whether the game runs smoothly. This includes events such as "building upgraded" or "colony level reached", plus technical information such as your phone model, iOS version, app version, approximate country (from your IP address) and a random app instance ID. It does not include your name, email, contacts, photos or precise location. You can change your mind at any time in Settings (Advanced, then Share stats). The app does not use the advertising identifier (IDFA).

3. Game Center (optional)

If you are signed in to Game Center on your phone, the app sends your score (population and colony level) and achievements to Apple's Game Center. This is handled by Apple under Apple's privacy policy. We do not receive your Game Center profile details.

4. Live events

The app downloads small settings files from Google Firebase Remote Config to run limited-time in-game events. This does not send any personal information about you beyond what is needed for your phone to make the request (such as its IP address).

5. Notifications (optional)

If you allow alerts, the app schedules reminders on your phone (for example "your harvest is ready"). These are created by the app on your device. They do not use a push notification server and nothing about them is sent to us.

How we use information

  • To provide cloud save and restore your game.
  • To understand how the game is used and make it better, only if you agree to analytics.
  • To run limited-time in-game events.
  • To keep the app working and fix problems.

We do not sell your information, and we do not use it for advertising or share it with advertisers. The app contains no ads.

Who processes your information

We use Google Firebase (Authentication, Cloud Firestore, Analytics and Remote Config) to provide cloud save, analytics and live events. Google acts as our service provider and may process data on servers in countries other than your own. See Firebase's privacy information. Apple provides Sign in with Apple and Game Center.

How long we keep it

Cloud saves are kept until you delete your account. Analytics data is kept for the period set in our Firebase settings, and then deleted automatically.

Your choices and rights

  • Turn off analytics at any time in Settings, Advanced, Share stats.
  • Delete your account and cloud save in the app (Settings, Cloud save). This removes your online save and your account ID from our servers.
  • Remove everything on your phone by deleting the app, or choose "New colony" to start over.
  • Notifications can be switched off in the app or in iPhone Settings.

Depending on where you live (for example the UK, the European Union or California), you may also have the right to ask for a copy of your information, to correct it, to delete it, or to object to how it is used. To make a request, email us at the address below.

Children

Build a Planet is not aimed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. Analytics is off until you agree, and cloud save needs an Apple ID. If you believe a child has given us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Security

Information sent between the app and our service providers is encrypted in transit. No system is perfectly secure, but we only keep what the game needs.

Changes to this policy

If we change this policy, we will update the date at the top. If the changes are significant, we will tell you in the app.

Contact

Questions or requests: hello@blackpearapp.com