Flappy Bird, the viral 2013 mobile game, will return after a fan group acquired the rights and announced plans to relaunch the title this year and next.
Who is bringing it back and when
The relaunch is being handled by the Flappy Bird Foundation, a team of fans who purchased usage rights from Gametech LLC. The foundation says a desktop version will be released in mid-October, while Android and iOS apps are expected to be available for download next year. No exact calendar dates have been provided.
What will the new Flappy Bird include
The foundation promises to preserve the core, simple gameplay that made the original a phenomenon, while adding new characters and environments. Among the additions shown in a foundation video is “Peng,” a playable penguin character. The team says the gameplay mechanics will remain unchanged: players tap the screen to keep the bird airborne and must avoid pipes or the run ends.
Background and creator’s absence unclear
The Flappy Bird Foundation has not confirmed whether Dong Nguyen, the game’s original creator, is involved in the relaunch. Nguyen withdrew the original Flappy Bird from app stores in 2014, citing concerns about players’ mental health despite the game’s commercial success.
Impact and legacy
At its peak, the original Flappy Bird reached an estimated 100 million players, according to the Flappy Bird Foundation. The title’s simple pixelated look and punishing difficulty inspired imitations from other developers, but none matched the original’s reach.
Warnings from the past
Nguyen’s removal of Flappy Bird occurred amid reports from 2013 and 2014 of extreme player frustration; some users reportedly damaged their phones after failing repeatedly in the game. The foundation’s relaunch message includes an appeal to enjoy the game in moderation.
Reporting for this story relied on information from Engadget.
