Your data at a glance
The game runs on your iPhone. We do not run our own app backend or keep a separate game-save database on our servers. Some data goes to the services below.
- Your iPhone stores your game progress and uses your steps to power play. Apple Health is optional.
- Mixpanel receives usage and gameplay data so we can improve the game. It also receives feedback you choose to send. Records are linked to a player or device ID, so they are not fully anonymous.
- Apple stores progress and walk summaries in your private iCloud when available, and handles Game Center scores if you use it.
- You can ask us to delete your Mixpanel and support data. The deletion section below explains what we remove and which data you manage through Apple.
Who is responsible
The Walking Game is operated by George Green, an individual based in the United Kingdom and the controller responsible for the personal data described here.
For privacy questions, support or a request about your data, contact privacy@the-walking-game.com. Please do not send passwords or your full Health records.
Your steps and Apple Health
With your Motion & Fitness permission, the app uses your iPhone’s step counter to power the game and record your walks. Real-step play needs this permission; the demo uses simulated steps.
Connecting Apple Health is optional. If you allow it, the app can read step counts, walking workouts, walking or running distance, active energy and available heart-rate data. These show your activity history and live walking metrics. The release app can also save walking workouts and their collected activity metrics to Apple Health.
The app does not upload your Health history, heart-rate records or active-energy records to Mixpanel. It does send summaries of steps taken during play, described below. Health access and game analytics are different data flows.
Saved progress and iCloud
The app saves your player ID, game results, missions, achievements, unlocked items, in-game balances and game votes on your device. When iCloud is available, these records sync to your private iCloud database so you can keep your progress.
The current build also syncs completed walk summaries: start and end times, duration, steps, available distance, indoor or outdoor choice and number of games played. These are app-recorded summaries, not a copy of your Health history.
A random player ID and a random analytics device ID are kept in the iPhone Keychain. The player ID can also be restored through iCloud. These identifiers can survive an app reinstall.
What we send to Mixpanel
We use Mixpanel to see which features people use, find problems and improve the game. Analytics starts when you open the app.
We use a randomly generated player or device ID to link activity across sessions. This lets us recognise the same player over time. If you connect Game Center, we also send its player ID and display name. If you add an email to feedback, that message includes the email. For these reasons, we do not describe the data as anonymous.
The app sends data to Mixpanel’s EU endpoint and disables IP-based location enrichment. Network services still receive an IP address when your device connects. We do not collect GPS routes or access your device’s advertising identifier (IDFA).
In the App Store version, we use Apple’s AdServices to learn whether Apple Ads led to your download. A temporary attribution token is sent only to Apple. We link the available campaign, ad group, keyword and ad IDs, placement, conversion type and attribution dates to your player ID in Mixpanel to understand which ads bring players who keep playing. The token is not stored or sent to Mixpanel, and this process does not send Apple your gameplay or Health data.
- App and device details, when you use the app and which permissions are enabled.
- Game choices, scores, missions, achievements, rewards and game votes.
- Steps taken during play, walk duration and summaries of how reliably the game receives steps. We do not send your full Apple Health history, heart-rate records or active-energy records to Mixpanel.
Game Center
If you use Game Center, Apple handles your Game Center account and receives scores for leaderboards. Your nickname and scores may be visible to other players according to your Game Center settings. You can manage Game Center through iPhone Settings.
Feedback and support
When you submit in-app feedback, Mixpanel receives your message, feedback category, player rank, app details and any reply email you choose to provide. An email address is optional. Please avoid including sensitive information in feedback.
Diagnostic reports are created on your device and shared only when you choose a destination in the share sheet. They contain technical logs, app and device details, sync status and your support ID. They do not contain your Health records. If you send a report to us, we use it to help with your request.
When you visit the website
Vercel hosts the website and processes connection and security data, such as your IP address, requested pages, browser details and request times, to serve and protect it.
We use Vercel Web Analytics to measure page views and selected button clicks and improve the website. Reports include pages, referral sources, campaign tags, approximate location, and browser and device details. It does not use analytics cookies. Our click events include the page language and the action or button position, without app player IDs, feedback or email addresses.
The website has no advertising pixels, signup form or marketing cookies. Fonts and images are served with the site. App Store, research and social links take you to other services, whose own policies apply when you visit.
Why we use data
We use data to provide the game features you request, save progress, answer enquiries and protect the service. Where UK or EU data protection law applies, we rely on performing our agreement with you for requested services, and our legitimate interests in maintaining, securing and improving the game for support and usage analysis.
Apple Health access is optional and depends on the permissions you choose. You can withdraw those permissions in Apple Health. Motion and Health permissions do not control usage analytics, which starts automatically in this version of the app.
We do not sell your personal data or use health and fitness data for advertising. Game rules select missions and rewards; the app does not make automated decisions with legal or similarly significant effects on you.
Service providers and overseas processing
Apple provides Health, iCloud and Game Center; Mixpanel processes app analytics and submitted feedback; Vercel hosts the website and provides website analytics. We may also disclose data when the law requires it or when needed to protect legal rights.
Our Mixpanel project stores analytics in the EU. Our providers and their subprocessors may also process data in other countries, including the United States. Their data-processing terms describe transfer protections, including the Data Privacy Framework where applicable, standard contractual clauses and UK safeguards. You can use the links below or contact us for details.
How long data is kept
Game saves remain on your device and in your private iCloud until removed. Health records are managed separately in Apple Health. Deleting the app does not automatically remove cloud records, Health records, Game Center information or Keychain identifiers.
Mixpanel automatically deletes analytics events after 24 months from the event date under its standard retention policy. This includes feedback sent as an event. User profiles are stored separately and remain while our Mixpanel subscription is active unless we delete them earlier. We have no separate scheduled profile-deletion period. You can request earlier deletion of your linked events, feedback and profile using the process below.
Support messages and diagnostic reports are kept for 12 months after the enquiry is closed, unless a legal obligation or an active dispute requires longer retention.
Vercel discards website analytics visitor-session identifiers after 24 hours; this does not mean all aggregate statistics are deleted after 24 hours. Hosting and security records are retained under Vercel’s service policies for delivery, troubleshooting, abuse prevention and legal obligations. We do not keep a separate website access-log archive.
Deleting your player data
You do not need a separate login to play, but the app creates a player ID to keep your progress and analytics together.
To delete your app data, open Settings in the game and choose Delete my data. After you confirm, the app removes its saved data from this device and your private iCloud, including walks, game progress and saved identifiers. This cannot be undone.
The app also sends a request to Mixpanel for us to delete the analytics linked to your player ID. It confirms when the request has been delivered. We check requests every few days and promptly submit them for manual deletion of the linked event history, user profile and in-app feedback. Mixpanel deletion is handled separately from deletion on your device and in iCloud.
Keep the app open and connected while it removes your app data and sends the request. If the process is interrupted, the app saves its progress and resumes when you reopen it. You may need to sign in to your original iCloud account or retry a failed step.
You can also email privacy@the-walking-game.com for help or to request deletion of analytics and support records. Include your player support ID if available so we can find the right records. We may ask for enough information to verify the request. Never send a password or your full Health records.
We normally complete valid deletion requests within one calendar month, or sooner if applicable law requires. If the law allows extra time, we will tell you within the original deadline and explain why. We will explain if we must keep any data by law.
Workouts already saved to Apple Health and scores already submitted to Game Center remain in those services. Deleting your app data does not delete your Apple Account. You can manage those services through Apple’s settings.
Removing the app alone does not delete data already sent to Mixpanel or stored in Apple services. After completing the in-app process, you can close and reopen the game to start fresh. Playing again creates new saved progress and analytics; deleting your data does not permanently opt you out of future analytics.
Your choices and rights
You can turn off Motion & Fitness access in iPhone Settings and change Health permissions in the Health app. This stops the relevant future access; it does not erase data already stored. Without Motion & Fitness, real-step play will not work. Apple Health remains optional.
This version has no in-app analytics opt-out. Turning off Motion or Health access does not stop general usage analytics. Deleting your data removes existing records through the process above, but playing again creates new analytics. Contact us if you wish to object to our use of your data.
Contact privacy@the-walking-game.com to ask for access, correction or deletion of data we control. Depending on the law that applies, you may also ask us to limit processing, provide a portable copy or withdraw consent. We may need enough information to verify the request and find the right records. Include your support ID if available; never send a password.
We will handle valid requests without undue delay and normally within one calendar month, or sooner if applicable law requires. We will carry out the request or explain any lawful reason why we cannot. If the law allows extra time, we will tell you within the original deadline and explain why.
You can object to processing based on legitimate interests. We will consider your objection and stop unless a lawful reason allows us to continue.
You can also complain to your local data protection authority, including the ICO in the UK, your local authority in the EEA, or Malaysia’s Personal Data Protection Commissioner.
Children
The Walking Game is intended for people aged 13 and over. It is not intended for children below that age. If you believe a younger child has provided personal data, contact us so we can investigate and remove it where appropriate.
If the law where you live requires a parent or guardian’s permission, involve them before using the app or sending us personal information. Parents and guardians can contact us about a child’s data.
Changes to this policy
We will update this page when our data practices change and show the date above. We will explain material changes and seek new permission where required before introducing a new use of your data.