Flappy Bird to launch on desktop later this year

Flappy Bird became a phenomenon in the mobile world about a decade ago, being so addictive that even its creator decided to take it offline to avoid problems. But now, after several failed clone attempts, the original game is coming back, and with new features.

Under the leadership of the newly formed Flappy Bird Foundation, a group of dedicated fans have managed to acquire the rights to the viral game. According to a press release, the game will be relaunched as a native app for iOS and Android in 2025. The good news, however, is that before then, you’ll be able to try out the new version of the game on other platforms, such as desktop and mobile web, later this year.

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The Legacy of Flappy Bird

Launched in May 2013, Flappy Bird only gained popularity in January 2014, when it became a global phenomenon. Developed by Vietnamese Dong Nguyen, the game was extremely simple: the player had to tap the screen to make the bird flap its wings and pass through green pipes, very similar to those seen in Mario games.

The appeal was its high difficulty and minimalist design, which quickly hooked millions of players around the world. According to the Flappy Bird Foundation, more than 100 million people played the game, which generated around US$50,000 per day in advertising revenue during its most successful days.

Creator of the game that took it offline says he has nothing to do with its return

At the time of the game’s success, the sudden surge in popularity was too much for its creator, who decided to remove Flappy Bird from app stores in February 2014. Dong Nguyen justified his decision with ethical concerns, stating that the game was becoming “an addictive product” and that it would be best to take it offline to prevent this addiction from continuing.

“Flappy Bird was designed to be played in a few minutes when you were relaxed, but it became a problem. To fix this, the game needed to be removed.”Nguyen said in an interview with Forbes. His selfless gesture ended up frustrating many fans, but it didn’t stop the emergence of countless clones that dominated the app stores in the following months.

Now, with the game’s return, he has made it very clear that he has nothing to do with it. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he confirmed that he is not involved and will not make any kind of profit from the new version.

New version of the game brings surprises

Now, after years of speculation, the Flappy Bird Foundation is promising to bring back the original experience, with some exciting additions. While the core design of the game will remain the same, new modes, characters, and even multiplayer challenges will be introduced.

The game’s official website revealed some of these new features, such as a new rivals mode, in which players can challenge up to 99 opponents simultaneously, and a mode that involves shooting birds into basketball hoops. In addition, new characters, such as Peng the penguin and Quirky, with his rainbow mohawk, were also introduced. Check out the trailer:

Will Flappy Bird become an addictive hit again?

Part of Flappy Bird’s enduring appeal lies in its simplicity and challenge. Even at the time it was released, the smartphone gaming scene was already full of titles with more complex graphics and even more complicated gameplay. So the bird game offered a challenge that could make you sweat, but at the same time was simple.

The difficulty of timing the pipes just right has led players around the world to compete for high scores, making the game an addictive yet frustratingly fun experience.

With a re-release set for 2025, many are wondering how the game will fare in a new era of mobile gaming, which is now more than ever filled with these complex, high-definition titles. Can Flappy Bird reclaim its place as one of the greatest icons of mobile gaming?

One thing is for sure: longtime fans of the game are eager to see the iconic bird fly again, this time with new updates and multiplayer challenges that promise to transform the classic experience into something even more exciting.

For those who played Flappy Bird in its early glory days, this return is more than just nostalgia; it’s a chance to relive an era where the simplicity of mobile gaming could become a global phenomenon. And for a new generation of gamers, it could be a chance to understand why such a seemingly simple game could take the world by storm in such a short space of time.

Flappy Bird is coming back. Will it fly even higher this time?