// LEGAL

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Last updated: 14 March 2026

1. ACCEPTANCE

By creating an account or using SUBSTRATE (the "Service"), you agree to these Terms & Conditions. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

The Service is operated by R3TR0S0FT ("we", "us", "our").

2. THE SERVICE

SUBSTRATE is a browser-based, AI-powered narrative RPG. The Service includes:

  • Account creation and management
  • Character creation and gameplay
  • AI-generated narrative content
  • Subscription-based access tiers

The Service is provided "as is." Game content is procedurally generated by AI and may vary between sessions. We do not guarantee specific outcomes, narrative quality, or content consistency.

3. ACCOUNTS

  • You must be at least 16 years old to create an account
  • You must provide a valid email address
  • You are responsible for keeping your credentials secure
  • One account per person — multi-accounting may result in suspension
  • We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms

4. SUBSCRIPTIONS & PAYMENTS

Free Trial

New accounts receive a 3-day free trial with limited actions. No payment information is required for the trial.

Paid Subscriptions

  • Subscriptions are billed monthly through Stripe
  • Prices are displayed before purchase and may change with 30 days' notice
  • Each tier has action limits (rolling 3-hour window, daily, and monthly caps)
  • Unused actions do not carry over between billing cycles

Cancellation & Refunds

  • You may cancel your subscription at any time — access continues until the end of the current billing period
  • Refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis — contact support@substrate.game
  • EU consumers have a 14-day right of withdrawal from the date of purchase, unless you have begun using the Service and waived this right

5. ACCEPTABLE USE

You agree not to:

  • Attempt to exploit, manipulate, or abuse the AI narrative system
  • Use the Service to generate harmful, illegal, or abusive content
  • Reverse-engineer, scrape, or automated-access the Service
  • Share, sell, or transfer your account
  • Circumvent rate limits, usage caps, or access controls
  • Interfere with the Service's infrastructure or other users' experience

Violation may result in immediate suspension or termination without refund.

6. AI-GENERATED CONTENT

  • Game narrative is generated by AI (Anthropic's Claude) in real time
  • AI-generated content may occasionally be unexpected, inconsistent, or inappropriate despite our safety measures
  • We do not manually review every AI response — if you encounter problematic content, report it to support@substrate.game
  • AI-generated content within the Service does not represent our views or endorsements

7. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

  • The SUBSTRATE name, branding, game design, lore, and code are our intellectual property
  • AI-generated narrative content during your gameplay sessions is provided for your personal use within the Service
  • You may share screenshots or recordings of your gameplay for personal, non-commercial purposes
  • You may not reproduce, distribute, or commercialise the Service or its content

8. PERMADEATH & DATA LOSS

Character death in SUBSTRATE is permanent by design. When your character dies:

  • The character and their data are permanently removed
  • This is an intentional game mechanic, not a bug or data loss
  • No restoration, recovery, or compensation will be provided for character death

By using the Service, you acknowledge and accept the permadeath mechanic.

9. AVAILABILITY

  • We aim for high availability but do not guarantee uninterrupted access
  • Maintenance, updates, and unforeseen issues may cause downtime
  • We are not liable for losses resulting from Service unavailability

10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

  • The Service is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind
  • We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
  • Our total liability is limited to the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim

Nothing in these terms excludes liability for fraud, death or personal injury caused by negligence, or any liability that cannot be excluded by law.

11. GOVERNING LAW

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Disputes will be resolved in the courts of England and Wales, unless EU/UK consumer protection rules provide otherwise.

12. CHANGES

We may update these terms. Material changes will be communicated via email or the Service with at least 30 days' notice. Continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

13. CONTACT

Questions about these terms: support@substrate.game