Back in 2013, times were simpler in mobile gaming. Phones didn’t have the graphical power to run apps such as Call of Duty or Fortnite and instead, the likes of Temple Run and Angry Birds were go-tos.
However, even though these games were extremely popular, nothing prepared the world for Flappy Bird – a game that was downloaded so much, the developer went into hiding.
By the end of January 2014, Flappy Bird was the most downloaded free game on both iOS and Android and was making developer Dong Nguyen approximately $50,000 a day from advertisements and sales.
But, in February 2014, Nguyen decided to pull the game from stores completely out of the blue. He stated the reason for this was because he felt guilty that the app was an “addictive product”.
Naturally, clones of the original experience we made available after this but never saw the same success Flappy Bird garnered.
Now, over 10 years since its removal, the return of Flappy Bird is on the cards with The Flappy Bird Foundation acquiring the trademark for the game.
Nguyen isn’t part of this developer group who is responsible for the revival of Flappy Bird but this is to be expected since he did suggest it “ruins my simple life”.
Instead, there’s a different team including Michael Roberts who is the ‘chief creative’ this time around.
Roberts is “beyond excited to be bringing back Flappy Bird” and the team has “big plans” for the future of the game.
Based on the announcement trailer, it appears that the classic tapping gameplay returns but with a plethora of bird cosmetics as well as what seems like a Super Mario Land like progression route through worlds.
There’s no news on the launch date though, other than it’ll be “landing soon” in 2024.
When Flappy Bird does make its official return to app stores, those who play it will be ported back to the tapping frustration of 2013 once more.
