Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 26 July 2026

This privacy policy informs you about the nature, scope, and purpose of the processing of personal data on this website in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR / DSGVO) and the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG).

1. Controller

The controller responsible for data processing on this website is:

Janik von Dühren
Sole proprietor (Einzelunternehmer)
Trading as Polarstar Games
Annakirchstraße 175
41063 Mönchengladbach
Germany

Email: contact@polarstargames.com
Website: https://polarstargames.com/

No data protection officer has been appointed, as this is not legally required for this business.

2. Definitions

Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (for example name, email address, or IP address). Processing means any operation performed on personal data, such as collection, storage, use, transmission, or deletion.

3. Hosting and server log files

This website is hosted by an external hosting provider. When you visit the website, the browser used on your device automatically sends information to the server of our website / hosting provider. The following data may be collected:

  • IP address of the requesting device
  • Date and time of the request
  • Requested URL / page
  • Referrer URL (if transmitted)
  • Browser type and version
  • Operating system
  • Amount of data transferred and status of the request

This data is stored in so-called server log files. It is required to deliver the website, ensure technical stability and security, and troubleshoot errors. The legal basis is Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR (legitimate interest in the secure and reliable operation of the website).

Log data is generally stored only for as long as necessary for the purposes stated above and then deleted or anonymized, unless a longer retention is required for evidence in the event of security incidents or legal obligations.

4. Contact by email

If you contact us by email, the personal data you transmit (at least your email address, and any other information contained in your message) will be stored and processed for the purpose of handling your inquiry and any follow-up questions.

Legal basis:

  • Art. 6 (1) lit. b GDPR, if your request relates to pre-contractual measures or an existing contract
  • otherwise Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR (legitimate interest in responding to inquiries)

We delete the data once storage is no longer necessary, or restrict processing if statutory retention obligations apply (for example under commercial or tax law).

5. Contact form

If you use the contact form on this website, the data you enter there (name, email address, message) will be transmitted to us and processed to handle your request.

For technical delivery of form submissions we use the service FormSubmit (https://formsubmit.co/). The data is sent via FormSubmit to our email address contact@polarstargames.com. FormSubmit acts as a processor / service provider for the transmission of the form data. Further information can be found in FormSubmit’s privacy policy: https://formsubmit.co/privacy.pdf.

Legal basis:

  • Art. 6 (1) lit. b GDPR for requests related to a contract or pre-contractual steps
  • otherwise Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR (legitimate interest in efficient communication)

The data will be deleted when it is no longer required for the conversation, subject to statutory retention obligations.

6. Newsletter registration

If you register for our newsletter, we process the name and email address you provide in order to send you information about Polarstar Games, our projects (including Deep Sea Mechanics), and related studio updates.

Registration is voluntary. By submitting the newsletter form you give your consent to this processing. The legal basis is Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR (consent).

Newsletter registrations are also transmitted via FormSubmit to contact@polarstargames.com (see section 5 for details on FormSubmit).

You may withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by contacting us at contact@polarstargames.com. The lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal remains unaffected.

We store newsletter data until you withdraw your consent or object to further use, or until the newsletter is discontinued, and then delete it unless legal retention obligations require longer storage.

7. Google Fonts

This website uses fonts provided by Google Fonts. For technical reasons, when the fonts are loaded your browser may establish a connection to Google servers (Google Ireland Limited and/or Google LLC, USA). In doing so, your IP address and related technical request data may be transmitted to Google.

The legal basis is Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR (legitimate interest in a consistent and appealing presentation of our website). Where required, the transfer to a third country is based on Google’s applicable transfer mechanisms / standard contractual clauses.

Further information: https://policies.google.com/privacy

8. External links and social media

This website contains links to external platforms, in particular:

  • Instagram / Meta Platforms
  • X (formerly Twitter)

If you follow these links, you leave our website. The respective provider may then process personal data under its own responsibility and privacy policy. We have no influence on that processing. Please consult the privacy notices of the respective providers before using those services.

9. Cookies, tracking, and analytics

This website currently does not use advertising cookies, tracking pixels, or third-party analytics tools (such as Google Analytics). Only technically necessary data processing for the operation of the website takes place as described in this policy.

If we introduce cookies that are not strictly necessary, or analytics tools, in the future, we will update this privacy policy and obtain any required consent beforehand.

10. SSL / TLS encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, this website should be accessed via an encrypted HTTPS connection where available. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the lock symbol in your browser and by “https://” in the address bar.

11. Recipients of personal data

Personal data is disclosed only where necessary for the purposes stated in this policy, in particular to:

  • our hosting provider (website operation and server logs)
  • FormSubmit (transmission of contact and newsletter forms)
  • Google (loading of Google Fonts)
  • public authorities, where we are legally obliged to do so

We do not sell your personal data.

12. Storage period

Unless a more specific storage period is stated in this privacy policy, personal data will be retained only as long as necessary for the stated purposes or as required by statutory retention obligations. When the purpose ceases to apply and no retention obligation remains, the data will be deleted or anonymized.

13. Your rights

Under the GDPR you have the following rights with regard to your personal data, subject to the legal requirements:

  • Right of access (Art. 15 GDPR)
  • Right to rectification (Art. 16 GDPR)
  • Right to erasure (Art. 17 GDPR)
  • Right to restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR)
  • Right to data portability (Art. 20 GDPR)
  • Right to object to processing based on Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR (Art. 21 GDPR)
  • Right to withdraw consent at any time (Art. 7 (3) GDPR), without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal

To exercise your rights, please contact us at contact@polarstargames.com.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (Art. 77 GDPR). For our establishment in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, the competent authority is typically:

Landesbeauftragte für Datenschutz und Informationsfreiheit Nordrhein-Westfalen (LDI NRW)
Kavalleriestraße 2–4
40213 Düsseldorf
Germany
Website: https://www.ldi.nrw.de/

14. Obligation to provide data

There is no legal or contractual obligation to provide personal data merely to visit this website. However, certain functions (contact form, newsletter) cannot be used without providing the requested data.

15. Automated decision-making

We do not use automated decision-making or profiling within the meaning of Art. 22 GDPR.

16. Changes to this privacy policy

We may update this privacy policy if our website, the services we use, or legal requirements change. The current version is always available on this page. The date of the last update is stated at the top.