Sylvan Tactics - Digital Edition - Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 9-28-2026

This policy explains what information Sylvan Tactics collects, why, and the choices you have. The short version: we only collect gameplay stats if you say yes, those stats are linked to a coded ID rather than your name, and you can turn them off or delete them at any time from Settings → Privacy.

1. Who we are

Sylvan Tactics is developed and published by Random Seed Games ("we", "us"). We are responsible for the information described in this policy (the "controller" under data protection law).

2. What this policy covers

This policy applies to the desktop versions of Sylvan Tactics distributed through Steam:

  • Sylvan Tactics (Steam App ID 4254510)

  • Sylvan Tactics Playtest (Steam App ID 4367960)

  • Sylvan Tactics Demo (Steam App ID 4902820)

It does not cover Steam itself. Valve's handling of your Steam account is governed by the Steam Privacy Policy.

3. At a glance

  • Gameplay stats: optional. Collected only after you choose "Share Stats". Used to balance and improve the game.

  • Linked to: a coded ID derived from your Steam ID, never your Steam name or the Steam ID itself.

  • Never collected: chat, voice, your name, email, payment details, contacts, hardware fingerprints, or your IP address.

  • Kept for: the coded ID is removed after 12 months; the stats then remain only as anonymous totals.

  • Your controls: turn sharing on or off, or delete your stats, in Settings → Privacy.

  • Sold or used for ads: never.

4. Gameplay stats (optional)

4.1 You choose

The first time you launch the game, it asks whether you want to share gameplay stats. Nothing is collected or sent until you answer, and nothing at all if you choose "Don't Share". The game plays exactly the same either way.

You can change your answer at any time in Settings → Privacy → Share Gameplay Stats. Turning it off stops collection immediately and discards anything recorded but not yet sent.

Your choice applies to the Steam app you made it in, so the demo and the full game each ask separately. If we change this policy in a way that affects what we collect, the game will ask you again.

4.2 What we collect

If you choose to share, the game sends the following:

Match summaries, at the end of online matches you host and matches against the CPU:

  • Match details: game mode, how the match ended, winner, duration, number of turns and actions, when it started and ended, and whether it was against the CPU (and at what difficulty).

  • Player stats, for both sides of the match: King and Queen health, moves, attacks, abilities and cards played, Sigils gained and spent, damage dealt and taken, promotions, and cards drawn.

  • Card and piece stats: which cards were drafted, drawn, played, discarded or attached, how they performed, and how each piece type was used.

  • Draft picks, in draft mode: the cards offered, the card picked, and how long the pick took.

In an online match, the summary includes your opponent's gameplay stats for that match so we can see how the match played out, but it carries no identifier for your opponent. Only the player who sends the summary is linked to it.

Progress events, as they happen:

  • Tutorial: which lessons you start, finish or leave, how far you got, and how long each step took.

  • First launch: whether you chose to start the tutorial.

  • Matchmaking: when you join or leave the queue, how long you waited, and when a match was found.

  • Rated matches (full game only): the result and the change to your hidden matchmaking rating.

Every submission also includes the game version and which Steam app sent it.

4.3 The coded ID

To connect your matches to each other (for example, to see how players improve over time or where the tutorial loses people), we store a coded ID made from your Steam ID with a secret key (a keyed HMAC-SHA256 hash). We do not store your Steam ID itself, and we do not store your Steam name.

Because we hold the key, we can recreate your coded ID if we are given your Steam ID. That is how we find your stats when you ask us to delete them. It also means your stats count as personal data under laws like the GDPR, and this policy treats them that way.

After 12 months, we remove the coded ID from your stats. From then on they are anonymous: they can no longer be linked to you by anyone, including us.

4.4 What we never collect

  • Chat or voice communications

  • Your name, email address, phone number or postal address

  • Payment information

  • Your Steam friends list or profile

  • Hardware identifiers or device fingerprints

  • Your IP address. Our hosting provider necessarily sees it to deliver each request, but we do not store it.

5. Information handled by Steam

Some features run through Steam and are handled by Valve, not stored by us:

  • Verifying uploads. When the game sends gameplay stats, it includes a one-time Steam login ticket. Our server asks Steam to confirm the ticket, which tells us it came from a genuine copy of the game and lets us create your coded ID. We do not keep the ticket.

  • Online play. Lobbies, invites and connections between players use Steam's networking, which relays traffic between players. Your Steam name is shown to your opponent. The game shows your Steam friends list on your own screen so you can invite friends; it is not sent to us.

  • Matchmaking rating (full game only). Your hidden matchmaking rating, and your count of rated wins, losses and games played, are stored as Steam stats on your Steam account so matchmaking can pair you with players of similar skill. This is part of the matchmaking you choose to use, so it does not depend on the gameplay stats setting.

  • Achievements and Steam Cloud. Achievements, and some settings and tutorial progress, are saved to your Steam account so they follow you between computers.

6. Information stored on your computer

The game saves your settings, tutorial progress and your answer to the gameplay stats question on your computer. If you have agreed to share stats, it also holds stats that have not been sent yet (for example, while you are offline) until they are sent. Choosing "Don't Share" or turning sharing off clears them.

7. Why we use it, and our legal basis

Gameplay stats (section 4). We use them to balance cards and strategies, find where players get stuck, and improve the tutorial and matchmaking. Legal basis under the GDPR and UK GDPR: your consent (Art. 6(1)(a)), which you can withdraw at any time.

Steam ticket check (section 5). We use it to accept stats only from genuine copies of the game. Legal basis: our legitimate interest in keeping the stats accurate and free of abuse (Art. 6(1)(f)).

Matchmaking rating (section 5). We use it to provide the matchmaking you choose to use. Legal basis: providing the service you requested (Art. 6(1)(b)).

We do not use your information for advertising or marketing, we do not sell or rent it, and we do not use it to make automated decisions about you.

8. How long we keep it

  • Raw copies of match summaries (used to fix processing errors): 30 days, then deleted.

  • Gameplay stats with your coded ID: 12 months, then the coded ID is removed.

  • Anonymous stats (after the coded ID is removed): as long as they are useful for balancing the game.

  • Stats you ask us to delete: deleted immediately.

9. Who we share it with

We do not sell, rent or trade your information. We use these service providers:

  • Cloudflare, Inc. hosts the server that receives gameplay stats and the database that stores them. Cloudflare processes the data only on our instructions, under its Data Processing Addendum. See also Cloudflare's Privacy Policy.

  • Valve Corporation (Steam) verifies Steam login tickets and provides the Steam features described in section 5, under the Steam Privacy Policy.

We may also disclose information if the law requires it.

10. International transfers

Cloudflare operates a global network, so gameplay stats may be processed in countries other than yours, including the United States. Where data from the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland is transferred to a country without an adequacy decision, the transfer is protected by the Standard Contractual Clauses included in Cloudflare's Data Processing Addendum.

11. Your rights and choices

In the game, at any time:

  • Stop sharing: Settings → Privacy → Share Gameplay Stats → Off. Withdrawing consent does not affect stats already sent while it was on; delete those separately if you want them gone.

  • Delete your stats: Settings → Privacy → Delete My Data. This permanently deletes the stats stored under your coded ID, from every Sylvan Tactics app. Stats older than 12 months are already anonymous and cannot be found or deleted, because they are no longer linked to you.

By email (support@randomseedgames.com), you can ask us to:

  • give you a copy of the stats stored under your coded ID

  • correct, delete or restrict the use of your information

  • answer any question about this policy

Include your Steam profile link so we can find your stats. Because Steam IDs are public, we will ask you to confirm that the account is yours before we send you any data. We reply within one month.

Depending on where you live, you may have further rights, including data portability and the right to object. You can also complain to a data protection authority, for example the one in the country where you live. We would appreciate the chance to address your concern first.

12. Children

Steam accounts are for people aged 13 and over, and Sylvan Tactics is not directed at children. Some countries set a higher age, up to 16, for agreeing to data collection yourself. If that applies to you, please ask a parent or guardian before choosing "Share Stats". Parents or guardians who believe their child has shared stats can delete them in Settings → Privacy or contact us.

13. Security

Gameplay stats are sent over encrypted connections (HTTPS) and accepted only with a valid Steam ticket. They are stored in Cloudflare's database, which is encrypted at rest. Access to the stored data is restricted to the developer.

14. Changes to this policy

When we update this policy we will change the "Last Updated" date above. If a change affects what we collect or how we use it, we will announce it on Steam and the game will ask for your permission again before collecting anything under the new terms.

15. Contact

Random Seed Games — support@randomseedgames.com

Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4254510/Sylvan_Tactics/