1. Introduction
Tessera is an Android sudoku and mosaic game published by an independent developer (hereafter "we" or "the publisher"). This policy describes what data is collected, how it is used and what rights you have. Tessera is intended for players aged 18 and over.
Contact: mfodevhub@gmail.com
2. Data stored locally on your device
Tessera saves your progress on your device. This data is not sent to our servers (the optional online backup through Google Play Games is described in section 8). It includes:
- Your progress: finished grids and statistics, mosaics, palettes and backgrounds unlocked, tiles earned, games in progress
- The daily challenge: days completed, daily streak, monthly trophies
- Your settings (theme, sound, vibration, large digits, optional daily reminder)
- Counters needed for ads (for example when an ad was last shown) and the state of the welcome tutorial
- Whether you own the one-time purchase “Tessera Plus” (last known value, re-checked with Google Play)
The reset option in Settings permanently deletes your progress. Uninstalling the app deletes all of this data.
3. Advertising (Google AdMob and consent)
Tessera shows rewarded video ads that you choose to watch (second chance, extra hint, catching up a missed daily challenge, doubling the tiles won) and, unless you own Tessera Plus, an interstitial ad now and then when you leave the result screen (never during a grid, never at launch, spaced out and capped). There are no banners. Ads are served by Google AdMob.
To serve and measure ads, Google's Mobile Ads SDK may process an advertising identifier and technical data about your device (model, OS version, approximate location derived from the IP address, ad interactions). Where the GDPR applies, a consent form (Google User Messaging Platform, “UMP”) is shown at launch and the ads SDK only starts once you have answered; you can change your choice at any time in Settings. See Google's Privacy Policy and how Google uses information from apps that use its services.
4. Purchases (Google Play Billing)
The “Support me” screen offers Tessera Plus, a one-time purchase (no interstitial ads, 5 free hints per grid, an exclusive palette), optional donations and a monthly supporter subscription. All of them are processed entirely by Google Play Billing. Tessera never sees or stores your payment details; the app only receives confirmation that a purchase is active. The ownership status is kept on your device, re-checked with Google Play at each launch, and is not part of your game save or of the online backup, since it is tied to your Google account.
5. External links
The “Support me” screen contains links that open in your browser or in Google Play (rating the app, Buy Me a Coffee). Those services have their own privacy policies; Tessera sends them no data.
6. Crash reports and usage statistics (Firebase)
To find and fix bugs, Tessera uses Firebase Crashlytics (Google). If the app crashes, a technical report is sent containing the technical details of the error, your device model, Android version and app version, and a randomly generated Firebase installation identifier not linked to your identity. These reports contain no game content and nothing that directly identifies you. Nothing is sent in debug builds. Purpose: fixing bugs and improving stability. Legal basis: our legitimate interest in maintaining a reliable app. Retention: 90 days on Firebase's side. Opt-out: in Settings, crash reports can be turned off at any time.
Usage statistics (Firebase Analytics). To understand how the game is played, Tessera records only categories and ranges, never exact values or personal content: grid started and finished (difficulty, result, time, mistakes and hints in ranges), mosaics completed, daily challenge and streak claims, tutorial steps, ads watched or not ready, and the Tessera Plus offer and purchase. These events are tied to a pseudonymous Firebase installation identifier, not to your identity. Consent: in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, collection only starts if you give your consent in the consent form (section 3); elsewhere it is enabled by default. In all cases you can turn it off at any time in Settings. Purpose: improving the game (for example spotting grids that are too hard). Processor: Google / Firebase, under its privacy information.
7. Feedback
The “Send feedback” button in Settings lets you write to us. Sending is voluntary and only happens when you press “Send”. The message goes to a single Supabase project shared by the publisher's apps (table feedbacks) with: the text you typed, the app name (Tessera) and version, your Android version, device model and language. Please do not put personal information in your message. These messages are used only to improve the app and you can ask us to delete yours (section 13).
8. Google Play Games Services (achievements and online backup)
Tessera uses Google Play Games Services for its 20 achievements. Signing in is optional and the game works fully without it. When you are signed in, Google's SDK lets the game recognise your Play Games profile (nickname and avatar) and records your achievements on your Google account. This data is processed by Google under its Privacy Policy and is not sent to our servers.
Online backup (Saved Games). When you are signed in, Tessera also stores a copy of your progress (mosaics, palettes and backgrounds, statistics, daily challenges and streak, trophies) in your Google account so you can resume on another phone; copies from two devices are merged without losing progress. The copy is kept by Google, not on our servers, and we have no access to it. Without sign-in, the save stays local. You can delete it from your Play Games profile or your Google Account.
9. Data we do not collect
Tessera does not collect your name, email address or any directly identifying information, your GPS location, photos, contacts or media files, or your payment details (handled entirely by Google Play). The app has no user account. The only data that can leave your device is described in sections 3 to 8.
10. Android permissions used
- INTERNET and ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE: serve ads, process purchases, send crash reports, statistics, the online backup and the feedback you choose to send. The game itself works offline.
- AD_ID (advertising identifier): used by the ads SDK only as described in section 3.
- POST_NOTIFICATIONS: Android 13 and later, requested only if you accept the optional daily reminder. It is scheduled locally on your device; no data is sent.
- RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED: lets the reminder be scheduled again after the phone restarts.
No other system permission is requested.
11. Communication security
All network communication of the app (ads, purchases, crash reports, statistics, online backup, feedback) uses HTTPS, to Google's infrastructure and to our Supabase project.
12. Sharing data with third parties
We do not sell, rent or share your data ourselves. The following services process data under their own privacy policies: Google AdMob (section 3), Google Play Billing (section 4), Google / Firebase Crashlytics and Analytics (section 6), Supabase for feedback (section 7, privacy policy) and Google Play Games Services (section 8).
13. Your rights (GDPR)
We hold no data that directly identifies you. Your progress stays on your device and you can delete it at any time (section 2). You can stop crash reports and usage statistics at any time in Settings. You may ask us for access to or deletion of the feedback you sent, or of crash and statistics data tied to your installation, by writing to mfodevhub@gmail.com; since this data is not linked to your identity, we may ask for details such as the date of sending or your app version. For advertising consent, purchases and your Play Games data, please use Google's own privacy controls, since we do not control that data.
14. Data retention
Local data is kept on your device until you reset the game or uninstall the app. Crash reports are kept 90 days on Firebase's side; usage statistics follow Firebase's retention settings; the online backup stays in your Google account until you delete it; feedback is kept as long as needed to process it and improve the app, unless you ask for earlier deletion.
15. Age
Tessera is intended for players aged 18 and over. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors.
16. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy. In case of a substantial change, the “last updated” date at the top of this page will be revised.
17. Contact
For any question about this policy: mfodevhub@gmail.com