Pocket Kin — Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 1, 2026 · Contact: support@charleshartmann.com

What Pocket Kin is

Pocket Kin is a single-player cozy virtual-pet game for Android phones and Wear OS watches, designed for all ages. There is no chat, no trading and no user-generated content. The game works fully offline; the features below are optional.

Data we collect

• Cloud game save (optional). When you choose to back up, your pet's state, inventory, room, discoveries, memories, settings and save revision are stored in Google Firebase (Firestore) under your account. Raw step counts and your timezone are stripped before upload. Writes go through our server functions only.
• Account (optional). Cloud saves use an anonymous Firebase ID; you may optionally link a Google account (for example, a parent-managed account). Deleting your account in the game removes the cloud save, receipts and authentication record.
• Purchases (optional). Google Play purchase tokens are verified on our servers to grant permanent cosmetic bundles, Cozy Caretaker Pass perks, or consumable petal packs, and to support restore/refunds. We store a hashed receipt for deduplication. We never see your payment card details.
• Steps (optional, opt-in only). If you turn on Walk Together, the game reads today's and yesterday's step totals from Health Connect (preferred) or the on-device step sensor during a walking session. Steps are used only for walking milestones that grant in-game rewards. Raw step data stays on your device; only milestone claim records sync. No GPS, no routes, and no health data is written.
• Watch heart rate (optional, opt-in only). On a paired Wear OS watch, the companion can read your current heart rate (BPM) from the watch's sensor after you grant the body-sensors permission on the watch. It powers the "Heartbeat Harmony" mood bonus and the live watch/phone dashboard. Readings stay on the watch and phone, are never uploaded to any server, and are never used for advertising or analytics. Skip or revoke the permission and the game stays fully playable.
• Diagnostics. Crash logs are collected via Firebase Crashlytics. They contain technical information only — never health data, step counts or gameplay content — and are used to fix bugs.

Data we never collect or share

We do not collect contacts, location, photos, microphone audio or any health data beyond the step counts and watch heart-rate readings described above, and we never sell data. Health values are never used for advertising or analytics.

Ads & in-app purchases

Pocket Kin shows optional rewarded video ads (an extra bonus you choose to watch, like doubling a mini-game reward or claiming an extra petal basket) and occasional non-intrusive interstitials between mini-games — never during active pet care, hatching, bath time, feeding, walking, or illness treatment. Ads are served by Google AdMob and governed by Google's privacy terms; user consent and child-appropriate settings are handled through Google's User Messaging Platform (UMP). A neutral age gate and parent gate protect children. You can review your privacy choices anytime in Settings → Privacy and ad choices.

Pocket Kin offers optional in-app purchases processed through Google Play Billing (8.0):

• Consumable currency & treats: Petal packs (+250, +750, +2,000 Petals) and gourmet fruit feast baskets to quickly replenish care supplies.
• Permanent convenience & cosmetics: The Cozy Caretaker Pass (permanently disables all interstitial ads, awards a golden crown badge, and boosts walking friendship), plus decorative room and wardrobe themes.

All in-app purchases, external web links, and account deletions are strictly protected behind a parental gate (an arithmetic challenge) to prevent accidental or unauthorized child purchases. Core pet care, companionship, and game progression never require real-money spending or ad watching.

Children & families

Pocket Kin is designed for families. A neutral age screen and a parent gate (a simple multiplication question) protect sign-in, purchases, restore and deletion. For child users, ads are configured as child-directed.

Permissions used

• Internet / network state — cloud saves, ads, purchase verification.
• Notifications — up to three gentle care reminders per day, only after you enable them, respecting your quiet hours.
• Activity recognition / Health Connect steps — the optional Walk Together feature, after explicit permission you can revoke anytime.
• Body sensors (watch only) — current heart rate on a paired Wear OS watch, after explicit permission on the watch; revoke anytime.
• Foreground service (health) — keeps optional phone walking sessions alive with a persistent notification you can stop with one tap.
• Vibration — gentle haptics you can turn off in Settings.

A full health-permission usage screen is available on the device under Settings → Apps → Pocket Kin → Health permission, and inside the game.

Data retention & your rights

Local saves stay on your device and are included in standard Android backup. Cloud saves are kept until you delete your account (in-game: Settings → Delete cloud account). You may request an export or deletion of your data anytime at support@charleshartmann.com.

Changes

If this policy changes materially, we will update this page and the game's release notes.