Chess Online Privacy Policy
Summary
Chess Online is a chess game you can play alone against the computer, with a friend at the same board, or online with other people. Playing alone sends nothing anywhere. When you choose to play online, the game uses Epic Online Services (a free service from Epic Games) to find other players and connect your headset to theirs. We do not sell data, show ads or run analytics, and we have no account system of our own.
1. Information we collect
We do not ask for your name, email address, contacts, location, photos or payment details. Nothing leaves your headset until you press PLAY ONLINE on the table panel or an online option in the B menu (Quick Match, Private Room or Join With Code). Then:
- An anonymous player identifier. Epic Online Services gives your headset an anonymous ID (an Epic "product user ID") created from an anonymous device identifier. If your Meta account can confirm you own the app, the game may use a Meta user proof to sign you in to Epic instead; in that case your Meta user ID is shared with Epic for sign-in only.
- Room information. The room you host or join is listed in an Epic lobby with the game's name, version, whether it is private and, for private rooms, a 4-digit code.
- Live game data. While you are in a shared room, your headset sends the other players' headsets your head and hand positions, your chosen avatar, which seat you sit in, the piece you are holding and the moves you make. This is needed to show you, and your moves, on their board.
- Voice (optional, off by default). Only if you turn VOICE on, your microphone audio is sent live through Epic's voice service to the other players in your room. We never record or store it. You can mute any player or everyone.
- Reports. If you report a player, the report (their anonymous ID, a reason and your anonymous ID) is sent to Epic's player reporting service so we can review it.
2. Hand tracking
If you play with your hands instead of controllers, the headset tracks your hand and finger positions so you can pick up pieces and press buttons. This data is used on your headset, frame by frame, and is not stored. When you play online, only your wrist positions (to move your avatar's hands) are sent to the other players in your room, as described above. Hand data is never sent to us.
3. Information stored on your device
The app saves on your headset: the games in progress on each table, the computer level, the game mode, the table height, your avatar choice, music settings and the list of players you have blocked. This data never leaves the device and is deleted when you uninstall the app.
4. How information is used
Only to run shared rooms (finding a room, connecting players, keeping the boards in sync), to carry optional voice chat, and to act on reports (for example, preventing a banned player from playing online). It is not used for advertising or profiling.
5. Sharing
Online play is provided through Epic Online Services, which processes the data above under the Epic Games privacy policy (epicgames.com/site/privacypolicy). The other players in your room receive your live game data and, if you turn it on, your voice. Meta handles platform features such as purchases and its system reporting under Meta's own privacy policy. We do not share data with anyone else.
6. Retention
We retain as little as possible. Lobby and room data exist only while a room is open. Voice is never stored. Your anonymous Epic ID remains with Epic so the same headset keeps the same ID; reports are kept only as long as needed to review them and enforce the rules. Data on your headset is kept until you uninstall the app.
7. Children
The game is rated for "Users Interact" content. Online play can be avoided entirely by playing the computer or a friend at the same board. Voice chat is off unless turned on, any player can be muted or blocked from the in-game Players list, and private rooms can be limited to friends who have the code. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
8. Permissions
The app uses the internet permission for online play, the hand tracking permission to let you play with your hands, and the microphone (record audio) permission only if you turn voice chat on - you are asked first. It does not use the camera, location, contacts or eye tracking.
9. Your choices
Play offline to share nothing. Online, you can leave a room at any time, keep voice off, mute, block or report any player. To ask about or request deletion of data connected to your anonymous ID, contact us at the address below.
10. Changes
If this policy changes, the updated version will be published at this address with a new effective date.
11. Contact
Citiview Studios
Email: citiviewgroup@gmail.com