MATCHY — PRIVACY POLICY
Bekoster Studios
Last updated 6 October 2026
The short version. Matchy has no sign-up: no name, email or password. The game gives your phone an anonymous ID. What you write in the game (your character and your messages) is sent to our server and to Google's Gemini AI so the characters can reply. Server copies of messages are deleted automatically, usually within 48 hours. Your saves stay on your phone. We don't sell your data. You can delete everything from Settings → Delete my account.
WHO WE ARE
Matchy is made by Bekoster Studios (Berkay Duyar), an independent developer. For anything about your data, write to info@bekosterstudios.com.
This policy covers the Matchy app. Matchy is only for people aged 18 and over.
WHAT WE COLLECT, AND WHY
• Anonymous player ID, created by Google Firebase Authentication when you first open the game. It is not linked to your name, email or phone number.
Why: To keep your energy, plan and daily limits working, and to stop abuse.
How long: Until you delete your account.
• What you write in the game: your character (the name, age, job, city, bio, likes and dislikes you choose) and your chat messages.
Why: Sent with each request so the AI can write the next reply in context.
How long: Server copy of a request and its reply: deleted automatically, usually within 48 hours. The conversation itself is saved only on your phone.
• Usage records: your plan, energy used, number of AI requests per day and their approximate cost.
Why: To run energy limits and keep the service affordable.
How long: Until you delete your account.
• Purchase information: which Matchy Plus plan you bought and the transaction details Apple provides.
Why: To check your subscription is valid. Apple handles the payment; we never see your card details.
How long: While your subscription is active, and as long as tax and accounting law requires after that.
• Advertising data (collected by Google AdMob): device and ad identifiers, IP address, and how you interact with ads.
Why: To show ads, including the optional ads that give you energy.
How long: Governed by Google's policies (see below).
We do not ask for, and do not want, your real name, contacts, photos, location or health information. Please don't type personal details into chats that you would not want an AI service to process.
THE AI THAT WRITES THE CHARACTERS
Characters' messages are generated by Google's Gemini API. When a character replies, our server sends Google your character, recent messages in that conversation and a summary of it. We use Google's paid API service, under which Google states it does not use prompts or responses to improve its products. Google keeps them for a limited period only to detect abuse and meet legal obligations. See the Gemini API terms.
The game asks for your permission before sending anything to the AI for the first time.
ADVERTISING AND TRACKING
Free players can see ads from Google AdMob. On iPhone, the game asks your permission (App Tracking Transparency) before Google may use your device's advertising identifier. If you say no, you still get ads, but they are less personalised. Google's use of data is described in How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services. You can change your choice at any time in iPhone Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.
NOTIFICATIONS
If you allow notifications, reminders are scheduled on your phone itself. No push token is created and nothing about notifications is sent to our server.
WHAT STAYS ON YOUR PHONE
Your save slots, conversations, settings and preferences are stored on your device. Deleting the app deletes them. They may be included in your own iCloud or device backups.
WHO WE SHARE DATA WITH
• Google Cloud and Firebase: hosting, our database and anonymous sign-in. Servers are in the United States.
• Google Gemini API: writing the characters' messages, as described above.
• Google AdMob: ads.
• Apple: payments and subscription management.
We do not sell your personal data, and we do not share it for anyone else's marketing. We may disclose information if the law requires it.
Analytics and crash reports
We use Google Analytics for Firebase and Firebase Crashlytics to understand how the game is played and to fix crashes. They record which parts of the game are used (for example, that a match or purchase happened), app crashes and errors, device type and approximate location derived from your IP address. They never receive your messages or the names you write. This data is not used for advertising.
DELETING YOUR DATA
In the game, open Settings → Delete my account and confirm. This deletes your account and records from our server, then wipes the game from your phone. It does not cancel a subscription; do that in iPhone Settings → your name → Subscriptions.
If you no longer have the app, email info@bekosterstudios.com. Because Matchy accounts are anonymous, we may not be able to tell which data is yours without the app. Anything we hold that we cannot link to a person is deleted on the schedule above anyway.
YOUR RIGHTS
Depending on where you live (for example in the UK, the EU or some US states), you have the right to access, correct, delete or move your personal data, and to object to or restrict how it is used. Email us and we will answer within 30 days. You can also complain to your local data protection authority.
Reporting content
If you report a character's message, we receive the text of that message, the reason you chose and your anonymous user ID, so we can review it and improve the game. Reports are deleted when you delete your account.
CHILDREN
Matchy is not for anyone under 18, and we do not knowingly collect data from children. If you think a child has used the game, contact us and we will delete what we can.
SECURITY
Data travels encrypted (HTTPS). Our AI key and server credentials are never inside the app. No system is perfectly secure, but we keep what we hold to a minimum.
CHANGES
If this policy changes, we will update the date at the top. If it changes in a way that matters, we will also tell you in the game.
SUPPORT
Questions, bugs or purchase problems: email info@bekosterstudios.com. We usually reply within 2 working days.
To delete your data: in the game, open Settings → Delete my account.