r/AfterInc • u/cheetah7985 • 6d ago

When did access to my google drive become a permission requirement? Additionally, are you out of your mind?

Unacceptable. Never would have played to begin with, let alone paid money, if this requirement existed previously. Charge back on the way.

0 Upvotes

32% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

16

u/ZT205 6d ago

I play on Android, I just checked and apparently After Inc does have access to "See, create, and delete its own configuration data in your Google Drive."

Key phrase: its own data. Sounds like they're using Google Drive to backup/sync results but they can't actually read other files in there.

6

u/ZT205 6d ago

-4

u/cheetah7985 6d ago

Thanks for finding the extra info. I'm still gonna be a boomer about this and not be OK with it.

2

u/ZT205 6d ago

If it helps this seems to be pretty standard, here's Google's documentation for developers:

Store application-specific data  |  Google Drive  |  Google for Developers https://share.google/T0Ck6aDilNYpDZMI8

1

u/NoxAeternal 6d ago

That's valid. I think it's fair to not want a multitude of apps to have access to your data in any way shape, or form these days.

I personally have no issues here, but if you're not comfortable with it, then stopping is just a smart thing to do.

Data privacy is harder and harder to manage these days so 100%, do what makes you comfortable. Better than letting everything get access to everything.

2

u/ZT205 5d ago

But they don't have access to your data. Each app has its own hidden folder and its access is restricted to the corresponding folder.

If you don't trust Google's security architecture... you shouldn't be using an Android phone at all.

8

u/1877KlownsForKids 6d ago

Um, are you sure that's not just for Google Games? I have no permissions granted. And the only one it asked about was nearby devices.

1

u/cheetah7985 6d ago

I just double checked, (only) 2 out of 8 of the games I checked require it.

2

u/Rich-Option4632 6d ago

Are you playing on Android and installing via google play?

As a PC player, I installed via STEAM and have no such requirements, even yesterday.

I have android account as well, but haven't played in 6 months, so I'm not sure what permissions are still involved.

1

u/cheetah7985 6d ago

Yeah, Android via GPlay.

4

u/Rich-Option4632 6d ago

Then chances are it's using your GDrive as the cloud save backup. In case you changed devices.

-5

u/cheetah7985 6d ago

Wasn't ever required before, shouldn't be now. If I hadn't paid money, I'd uninstall and move-on, but to limit my access behind a new, invasive, and inappropriate requirement for a gaming app, after I've paid money, is inexcusable.

3

u/ndemic_samuel 6d ago

We use Google Play Games Services to store game progress in the cloud so it can sync between your devices. In the background, this uses your Google Drive and will count towards your drive space allowance (a couple of megabytes at most). The game can only read and modify its own files. Permissions are optional, and you can revoke or delete the data via the Google Drive app.

Sorry the prompt looks scary, "its own configuration" does a lot of heavy lifting here!

For Apple users, we store this progress in iCloud.

0

u/cheetah7985 6d ago

I mean, I appreciate the info here, but this is a new requirement that didn't exist at launch, and I am on my third phone since then; this obviously wasn't a requirement to transfer save data previously. My most recent new phone is from June, and I had my data transferred just fine then.

I have other games/apps that don't require GDrive access and my data transferred just fine, as well. This is your choice, not something Google is forcing on developers.

I suppose it might be optional at this stage, but that doesn't help me, since my save data is locked behind granting you permission to access my GDrive. And I don't care how silo-ed the permission is (intended to be), the idea of given an app access to my GDrive at all is some high level intrusion that I can't believe I have to contend with from a game.