Privacy Policy

Effective date: 2026-09-18
Last updated: 2026-09-18

A17PROJECT (“A17PROJECT,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) operates the website https://a17project.com and related communications about our games, including Padel Legends, Whispers of Ages, and Finger Wars (together, the “Services”).

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, with whom we share it, and the choices you have. By using the Services or submitting information to us, you acknowledge this Policy.

If you do not agree, please do not use the Services or submit personal information.

Privacy contact: studio@a17project.com
Operator: A17PROJECT
Location: Florida, United States

1. Scope

This Policy covers personal information we collect through:

• our website and any pages we link from it that we control;
• alpha / closed playtest applications and related tester communications (see also the short playtest notice at /playtests/privacy);
• partnership, press, and creator inquiry forms or emails;
• emails you send us.

This Policy does not cover third-party websites, platforms, or services we link to (for example YouTube, Steam, console stores, or social networks). Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies. If we later launch downloadable builds, online features, accounts, storefronts, or platform store listings, we will update this Policy and, where required, notify you.

2. Categories of personal information we collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

2.1 Information you provide

• Playtest / alpha application (/playtests) — email address; selected game (Padel Legends, Whispers of Ages, or Finger Wars); preferred platform (currently Windows PC, with Android listed as under consideration); and your consent to be contacted about the playtest.
• Playtest access redemption (/tester) — personal invitation code.
• Playtest feedback (/feedback, after you redeem access) — questionnaire answers (play time, enjoyment, clarity, performance, replay intent, and up to two priority areas); optional comments about the game or build; optional bug reports (description, reproduction steps, impact); and optional screenshot or short clip attachments you choose to upload.
• Emails you send us — including partnership, press, creator, support, or privacy requests sent to studio or game-specific addresses (for example studio@a17project.com).
• Anti-abuse fields — our application form includes a hidden honeypot field not intended for people to fill in; entries that fill it may be treated as automated and discarded.

2.2 Information collected automatically

When you visit our website, we and/or our service providers may automatically collect:

• Technical and usage data — IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, dates/times of access, and approximate location derived from IP.
• Cookies and similar technologies — see Section 7.

2.3 Information from third parties

We may receive information from:

• Form or email providers that host or deliver our applications and messages;
• Platform providers (for example Steam, Apple, Google, console platforms) if you obtain builds or communicate through those channels;
• Publicly available sources you point us to (for example a portfolio or social profile link you include in an inquiry).

We do not knowingly buy personal information from data brokers.

3. How we use personal information

We use personal information to:

• operate, maintain, and improve the Services and our games;
• review and respond to playtest / alpha applications and select testers;
• send playtest invitations, access instructions, build updates, and related support messages;
• evaluate partnership, press, and creator requests;
• communicate with you about studio news you requested or that relate to a relationship you already have with us;
• monitor security, prevent fraud and abuse, and debug technical issues;
• comply with law, enforce our terms, and protect our rights and users;
• provide accounts, multiplayer, purchases, analytics for gameplay quality, and customer support.

Legal bases (EEA/UK users — GDPR): where the GDPR applies, we rely on one or more of: performance of a contract or steps at your request before a contract (for example evaluating a playtest application); legitimate interests (operating a small indie studio site, securing services, improving games, responding to inquiries — balanced against your rights); consent (where we ask for it, for example certain cookies or optional marketing); and legal obligation.

4. How we share personal information

We do not sell your personal information for money.

We may share personal information with:

• Service providers / processors who help us host the website, run forms, send email, provide analytics, or store files — under instructions to use data only for our purposes;
• Professional advisors (legal, accounting) under confidentiality;
• Authorities or parties to a legal process when required by law or to protect rights, safety, and security;
• A successor in connection with a merger, acquisition, or asset transfer, subject to appropriate safeguards.

Playtest builds: if you are selected as a tester, we may share limited account or contact details with platform distributors solely to grant access.

We do not authorize service providers to use your information for their own independent marketing.

5. International transfers

We are based in the United States. If you access the Services from outside the U.S. (including the EEA, UK, or Switzerland), your information may be processed in the United States or other countries that may not provide the same level of data protection as your home country.

Where required, we will use appropriate safeguards for such transfers (for example Standard Contractual Clauses).

6. Retention

We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this Policy, including:

• playtest applications and related communications — typically for the duration of the relevant playtest program and a reasonable period afterward for follow-up, fraud prevention, and record-keeping (typically up to 24 months after last contact, unless you ask us to delete sooner or law requires longer);
• partnership / press inquiries — for as long as needed to evaluate and follow up, then delete or archive as appropriate;
• website logs — for shorter operational periods.

When we no longer need personal information, we delete it or irreversibly anonymize it where feasible.

7. Cookies and similar technologies

We and our infrastructure providers may use cookies or similar technologies that are:

• Strictly necessary — to make the site and tester portal work, including a first-party browser cookie/session that remembers redeemed tester access (the playtest privacy notice states this access stays on the browser for up to seven days);
• Security / bot management — for example Cloudflare-related cookies used to protect the site from automated abuse;
• Embedded third-party media — pages that embed YouTube may allow YouTube to set its own cookies subject to Google’s policies.

We have not identified a separate marketing or advertising analytics package on the playtest application pages as of this draft. If we add non-essential analytics later, we will update this section and obtain consent where required.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect site or tester-portal functionality.

8. Children’s privacy

The Services are intended for a general audience and are not directed to children under 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in your country). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us at the privacy email above and we will take appropriate steps to delete it.

9. Your rights and choices

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to:

• access, correct, or delete personal information;
• receive a portable copy of information you provided;
• object to or restrict certain processing;
• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
• opt out of certain sharing or targeted advertising, if we ever engage in those activities;
• lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.

To exercise rights: email studio@a17project.com (or use the contact path at /privacy-contact) with enough context for us to understand your request. Please do not send passwords or payment details. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

Marketing: if we send optional marketing emails, you can unsubscribe via the link in the message or by emailing us. Operational messages about an active playtest you joined are not marketing.

California / other US state laws: if applicable, you may have additional rights regarding access, deletion, correction, and opt-outs. We will not discriminate against you for exercising privacy rights.

10. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures appropriate to the nature of the data and our size as an independent studio. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure. Please use strong unique passwords for any future accounts and notify us of suspected unauthorized access.

11. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version on this page and change the “Last updated” date. For material changes, we will provide additional notice when appropriate (for example by email if we have your address, or a notice on the site).

12. Contact us

A17PROJECT (independent game studio)
Florida, United States
Email: studio@a17project.com
Website: https://a17project.com

For privacy questions or requests, contact us at the email above.