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Terms of Service

Last Updated: January 12, 2026

1. Service

Shader House is a digital platform for indie game developers and gamers, owned and operated by Shader House Corp. By registering an account and using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.

2. Users and Developers

Gamers: If you register to play, download, or purchase games, you are a User. Users must be at least 13 years old.

Developers: If you register to publish, sell, or distribute games, you are a Developer. Developers must be at least 18 years old or have legal parental consent, and must be able to enter into binding agreements.

3. Acceptable Use

Shader House is committed to providing a safe, respectful community. Prohibited actions include:

  • Uploading malicious code, viruses, or malware
  • Spamming, harassment, or bullying
  • Posting unlawful, discriminatory, or hateful content
  • Violating intellectual property rights
  • Manipulating or exploiting the platform
  • Creating false identities to mislead others

Violations may result in immediate account termination without notice.

4. Developer Content & User License Restrictions

Developers are solely responsible for content they upload. You affirm that you own or have proper licenses for all submitted content. By uploading content, you grant Shader House a license to display, promote, and distribute your content through the platform.

Developers retain all ownership rights to their content. You grant Users a license to access and use content as permitted through normal platform functionality.

User License Restrictions: Users who download or access games through Shader House are granted a limited, non-transferable, non-exclusive license for personal use only. Users are expressly prohibited from:

  • Redistributing downloaded games to others outside the platform
  • Sharing game files with non-platform users
  • Reselling, commercializing, or monetizing downloaded games
  • Uploading games to other platforms or distribution services
  • Modifying, reverse engineering, or creating derivative works (unless explicitly permitted by the developer)

Violations of these license restrictions may result in immediate account termination and potential legal action.

5. QA Review Platform

All games, game versions, and content changes submitted to Shader House undergo a quality assurance review process before being published. By submitting content, Developers agree to:

  • Submit complete and functional game content
  • Allow reasonable time for admin review (typically 3-7 business days)
  • Respond to feedback and requested changes promptly
  • Understand that approval is at Shader House's sole discretion
  • Comply with content quality standards and community guidelines

QA review statuses include: Draft (in progress), Pending QA (submitted for review), Approved (published), Rejected (does not meet standards), and Changes Requested (revisions needed).

6. QA Playtest Program and Release Status

After QA approval, games can be released in two phases:

QA Playtest Phase: Games marked as "QA Playtest" are accessible only to Pro subscribers for early testing and feedback. Developers use this phase to gather community feedback before public release.

Full Release: Games marked as "Released" are visible in the public marketplace to all users.

QA Playtesters (Pro subscribers) agree to:

  • Provide constructive feedback to help developers improve their games
  • Report bugs, issues, and suggestions through appropriate channels
  • Understand that QA playtest games may be incomplete, unstable, or contain bugs
  • Respect any additional terms or NDAs set by individual developers
  • Not publicly share QA playtest content if developers request confidentiality
  • Not redistribute QA playtest game files outside the platform

Developers may promote games from QA Playtest to Released status at any time. This action is irreversible.

7. Indie Verification

Developers may apply for Indie Verification status. Verification decisions are made at Shader House's sole discretion. Verified status may be revoked for violations of these terms or community standards.

8. Payments and Subscriptions

Shader House offers subscription tiers for enhanced features. All payments are processed securely through third-party payment processors. Subscription fees are non-refundable except as required by law.

Developers selling games agree to our revenue sharing model. Shader House retains a platform fee from each transaction to maintain and improve the service.

9. Intellectual Property

If you believe content on Shader House infringes your copyright, please contact us with:

  • Identification of the copyrighted work
  • Location of the infringing material
  • Your contact information
  • A statement of good faith belief
  • A statement of accuracy under penalty of perjury

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. SHADER HOUSE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SHADER HOUSE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE.

12. Account Termination

Users and Developers may terminate their accounts at any time. Shader House reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms. Upon termination, Developers may request removal of their content within a reasonable timeframe.

13. Changes to Terms

Shader House may modify these terms at any time. Continued use of the service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

14. Contact

For questions about these terms, please contact us through our support channels.