Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 19, 2026

1. Who We Are

Valenarth is operated by Daniel Bick, trading as Bytemix Studios ("we", "us", "our") — a sole proprietorship under German law, not a registered legal entity. All references to "Bytemix Studios" in this document refer to Daniel Bick as a natural person. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you use our website and game.

2. Data We Collect

We collect the following data when you use Valenarth:

Account Data

  • Username
  • Password (securely hashed with bcrypt — we never store plaintext passwords)
  • Account creation date

Game Data

  • Player progress, inventory, skills, and settlement data
  • In-game actions necessary for game state (building, crafting, gathering)

Usage Data

  • Play time and session duration
  • Login timestamps
  • Session count

Connection Data

  • IP address (for connection handling and abuse prevention)
  • WebSocket connection metadata

3. Data We Do Not Collect

We want to be clear about what we don't do:

  • We do not use any third-party analytics, tracking scripts, or advertising services.
  • We do not collect or store email addresses (unless you voluntarily share one via Discord).
  • We do not store chat messages — chat is real-time only and not persisted to disk.
  • We do not share, sell, or transfer your data to any third party.
  • We do not use fingerprinting or any form of cross-site tracking.

4. Cookies

Valenarth uses the following cookies:

  • Session cookie — keeps you authenticated while playing. Essential for the game to function. Expires when you close your browser or after your session times out.
  • Preference cookies — store your local settings such as audio volume, keybinds, and UI preferences. These remain on your device until you clear your browser data.

We do not use any third-party cookies, tracking cookies, or advertising cookies.

5. How We Use Your Data

Your data is used exclusively to:

  • Authenticate your account and maintain your session
  • Save and restore your game progress
  • Operate the game world (settlements, shared inventories, multiplayer state)
  • Prevent abuse, cheating, and unauthorized access
  • Monitor server health and performance

6. Data Storage & Security

All data is stored on servers located in Germany. We self-host all services — no third-party cloud providers or external services have access to your data.

We take reasonable measures to protect your data, including:

  • Passwords hashed with bcrypt
  • Encrypted connections (HTTPS/WSS)
  • Server access restricted to the operator only

However, no system is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data, especially during the early alpha phase.

7. Data Retention

Your account and game data are retained for as long as your account exists. Connection data (IP addresses) is retained for up to 30 days for abuse prevention, then automatically deleted.

8. Your Rights (GDPR)

As a user in the European Union, you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

  • Right of access — you can request a copy of all personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to rectification — you can request correction of inaccurate data.
  • Right to erasure — you can request deletion of your account and personal data.
  • Right to data portability — you can request your data in a machine-readable format.
  • Right to object — you can object to specific processing of your data.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us via our Discord server. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

Upon account deletion request, your account will be deactivated immediately. Personal data will be fully removed within 30 days. Some data may be retained for a limited additional period where required for legal obligations or abuse prevention.

9. Children's Privacy

Valenarth is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you are between 13 and 16, you must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian to use the Game. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child under 13, we will delete the account and associated data promptly.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated through the Game or our Discord server. Continued use of the Game after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact

For any questions or requests regarding your privacy and personal data, reach out via our Discord server.