Summary
An updated version of the classic mobile gameFlappy Birdhas been released on the Epic Games Store. After a decade of relative silence from the simple-but-addictive series, a new developer has taken on the mantle and is making bold moves with theFlappy Birdbrand.
The first iteration of the infamous title was created in 2013 by Vietnamese developer Dong Nguyen. It became a viral sensation in the following year, amassing over 90 million downloads across iOS and Android platforms. The considerable media attention thatFlappy Birdreceived often leaned into the negative, which led toNguyen removing the game from app stores in early 2014. Since then, he has lost the trademark to theFlappy Birdname, and it has been acquired by an independent organization that recently developed an enhanced reboot of the title.
The Flappy Bird Foundation celebrated the game’s re-release in a post on Twitter. As of now, the new and improved version is only available on Android devices through the Epic Games Store, but official advertising materials from FBF promise future releases in the “Flappy Birdecosystem.” This may be referring to a possible iOS port, although communication on the topic has been unclear.
Flappy Bird Gets New Characters, Modes, and More
Regardless, the new edition ofFlappy Birdfeatures several significant changes from the original. In addition to the standard Classic Mode, there is an all-new Quest Mode with aMario Bros-esque world map. The game also offers many cosmetic options, including a bevy of playable characters and obstacles. The wide-ranging selection of aesthetics is reminiscent of the variegatedclone games that were popular back when the originalFlappy Birdwas still available. This design choice, along with trailers that include clips of old YouTube creators, makes it clear that nostalgia for the 2010s is playing a big factor in the Epic Games Store release.
This is not the first time that game developers have attempted to capitalize on the brand recognition of the original title. In fact, it’s not even the first time that the Flappy Bird Foundation has tried to. In late 2024, it released a different rendition of the game on the instant messaging app Telegram. This version implemented controversial cryptocurrency support, causingDong Nguyen to explicitly distance himself from the project.
The re-release ofFlappy Birdfollows a trend of other classic game series, especially mobile game series, returning to (app) store shelves after lengthy hiatuses. In 2022, for example, the originalAngry Birdswas brought back to iOS and Android devices. Flappy Bird Foundation seemingly has grand ambitions for its adopted franchise, so it’s likely there will be moreFlappy Birdannouncements in the near future.
Flappy Bird
WHERE TO PLAY
Flappy Bird is an arcade mobile game that was released in 2013. The game was panned by critics but became a huge hit a few months after it was released, with its poor gameplay proving to be surprisingly addictive.The game’s creator suddenly made the game unavailable to purchase in February 2014, though the game returned in August of the same year on Amazon Fire TV.
