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FAQ
Common questions about BadSector 1911 - how it works, what it costs, and what happens at ¥1,000,000.
Is BadSector 1911 free to play?
Yes - completely free to download and play on iOS. There are no pay-to-win mechanics. You can't buy your way past the ¥1,000,000 BADSECTOR threshold or purchase crew members that are story-locked. Every upgrade, every operator, every run is earned through gameplay.
Does BadSector 1911 work offline?
Yes. Your save data lives on your device and the game is fully playable without an internet connection. If you have iCloud enabled, your progress syncs through Apple's infrastructure when you're back online. Daemons continue accruing ¥ while you're away - that's the idle half of the game.
What is the BADSECTOR protocol?
BADSECTOR is the central mystery of the game. It's a kill protocol - a subnet-wide persona erasure designed to automatically eliminate operators who accumulate ¥1,000,000 in illicit earnings. The VANTAGE GROUP built it to erase high-value underground operators before they become a threat. You discover this partway through Act 1, after you're already past ¥12,000. The story is about what happens as you approach that threshold - and who built it, and why.
What is the difference between Heat and Trace?
They're two separate danger meters that work on different timescales. Trace resets at the end of each run - it measures how close you are to being caught in a single contract. Push too high and you burn the run. Heat is persistent across all your runs. Every job you complete, every daemon you run, every contract you take pushes Heat higher. At 100 Heat, corporations stop investigating and start sending field operatives. Managing both simultaneously is the core tension of the game.
How does the daemon system work?
Daemons are software agents you deploy on compromised corporate networks. Once placed, they earn ¥ passively - even when you're not playing. Your rig tier determines how many daemon slots you have (starting at 1, up to 5 at T5). The catch: daemons can be detected and killed by corporate countermeasures, especially at higher Heat levels. Upgrading your rig and researching daemon-related topics improves earn rate and burn resistance.
What happens when you reach ¥1,000,000?
Reaching the ¥1,000,000 threshold is what the entire 5-act story builds toward. BADSECTOR is a response condition triggered at that exact amount - a subnet-wide erasure of your persona. Getting there isn't the end of the game; it's the climax of the narrative. What you've learned about the protocol, the people who built it, and your crew determines how the story resolves. After completing the story, the prestige system unlocks.
How many crew members can I have active at once?
You can have up to three crew members active simultaneously. There are 10 crew members in the game across four tiers, each providing a unique passive bonus - heat decay, trace shielding, daemon income boosts, and more. Some are recruited with ¥, others are unlocked through story progression. KESTREL is given at the start. KOI, for example, is story-locked and cannot be purchased.
Is there multiplayer or leaderboards?
No. BadSector 1911 is a single-player game. There's no multiplayer, no PvP, no shared networks, and no leaderboards. The underground you're running in is yours alone. This also means your data never interacts with other players' data - a deliberate design and privacy choice.
What are the different ICE types I'll encounter on runs?
ICE (Intrusion Countermeasure Electronics) comes in three classifications. WHITE ICE is the simplest - a basic skill check and the lowest-risk node encounter. GRAY ICE provides moderate resistance and is the standard defense on mid-network nodes. BLACK ICE is the most dangerous: a timed rapid-tap interaction where missing the window causes significant trace damage or run failure. You can use the ICE PROBE tool to scan a node's ICE type before engaging.
Who are the main corporations I'm up against?
Three corporations form the opposition. VANTAGE GROUP is the primary antagonist - a mega-corporation that restructured into seven subsidiaries to obscure accountability. They approved the BADSECTOR directive. MIRA SYSTEMS is their enforcement arm: they sweep subnets and hunt operators, and at high Heat levels they stop filing reports and start sending people. HELIX is a logistics corp that provides lower-tier contracts with lower initial suspicion - useful for early runs, but not clean.
Is there a research or upgrade system?
Yes. There are 19+ research topics plus 6 advanced topics that unlock permanent upgrades across run efficiency, daemon performance, rig capabilities, and heat management. Research persists through prestige, so each cycle compounds your long-term power. Rig tiers run from T1 through T5 and determine daemon slot count, processing power, and available tool loadouts.
Does BadSector 1911 collect my data or use AI?
No. BadSector 1911 does not collect usage data, analytics, or telemetry. The only information we receive is from Apple Sign-In: a unique identifier Apple generates for your account, and optionally an email or name if you choose to share it. We do not use AI or machine learning on your data in any form. Your gameplay, run history, and decisions are never analyzed or shared. Save data lives on your device. You can delete your account from within the app at any time.
Still have questions?
Email us at privacy@badsector1911.com. We read every message and we respond.
BadSector 1911 is a single-player iOS game. No servers are watching you play.