'Flappy Bird' is back – but with a murky comeback story and without its creator
Ten years ago, a simple mobile game called Flappy Bird took the world by storm. The game became a massive hit in early 2014 on both iOS and Android, and quickly brought its creator, Vietnam-based Dong Nguyen, fame and fortune. Flappy Bird at one point was reportedly bringing in tens of thousands of dollars in ad revenue per day.
By February 2014, however, Nguyen had completely removed the game from all mobile app stores. Others have attempted to clone the game over the years, but were never able to replicate the success of the original.
Now, more than ten years later, a group called the Flappy Bird Foundation is re-launching the game. The group, which describes itself as "a new team of passionate fans," has the trademark to Flappy Bird – although it appears it wasn't obtained from Nguyen. The creator of a game that many believe inspired Flappy Bird is also backing the project.
One thing the Flappy Bird Foundation doesn't have, however, is Nguyen.
The new Flappy Bird game
The Flappy Bird Foundation released a trailer on Thursday showcasing what fans can expect from the new game.
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It is called Flappy Bird. The original yellow bird character is back. Players still tap on the screen to flap their wings and move up and down to avoid hitting pipes.
However, there's much more to the new Flappy Bird now too according to the game's new website.
There are additional playable characters as well as different levels. The trailer shows a world map which suggests there will be a storyline mode. There's also other gameplay modes which involve guiding your Flappy Bird character through basketball hoops. It appears there will be an online mode called Flappy Bird Rivals too where players can take on 99 other competitors.
The new Flappy Bird is set to release in October on the web and other platforms with dedicated iOS and Android apps coming in 2025.
The return of Flappy Bird? Sort of.
Flappy Bird's "return" is odd as its creator Dong Nguyen is not involved. In fact, Nguyen apparently has nothing to do with Flappy Bird's comeback whatsoever, and reportedly didn't sell the rights to it.
Nguyen said he was unhappy with the attention Flappy Bird brought, and has previously said that he did not want Flappy Bird to exist at all.
"Flappy Bird was designed to play in a few minutes when you are relaxed," Nguyen told Forbes in an interview in February 2014 shortly after taking the game off of the app stores. "But it happened to become an addictive product. I think it has become a problem. To solve that problem, it's best to take down Flappy Bird. It's gone forever."
So, how is the Flappy Bird Foundation reviving the game?
In its post announcing "I AM BACK!!" the Flappy Bird account on X shared that "the decade-long mission" to revive the game "involved acquiring legal rights and even working with my predecessor to uncage me and re-hatch the official Flappy Bird® game!"
But the Flappy Bird Foundation acquired the rights from Gametech Holdings LLC., not Nguyen. According to court documents, Gametech Holdings LLC acquired the Flappy Bird rights by filing to take over the abandoned trademark rights from Nguyen. As Inverse points out, Gametech Holdings LLC used Nguyen's own public statements about abandoning Flappy Bird in order to successfully take over the trademark in September 2023.
While Nguyen's lack of involvement in every step here may leave a bad taste in some fans' mouths, the Flappy Bird Foundation does have a member with ties to the original Flappy Bird.
The apparently anonymous creator of the game Piou Piou vs. Cactus is reportedly part of The Flappy Bird Foundation. Back when Nguyen found success with Flappy Bird, he was criticized for allegedly "borrowing" elements of Piou Piou vs. Cactus, such as the design of the infamous yellow Flappy Bird character. Some have even speculated that Nguyen really shut down Flappy Bird in order to avoid legal issues with the creator of Piou Piou vs. Cactus.
So, Flappy Bird is back, albeit with a murky new backstory. Will The Flappy Bird Foundation pull off the comeback? It's possible. However, there are already critics of the new game based on what appears to be a new addition to Flappy Bird: The dreaded micro-transaction.
We'll have to wait and see when it comes out.