Flappy Bird is back—or so it seems. The viral mobile game that captivated millions in 2014 is making headlines once again. But this time, the story is shrouded in controversy and confusion, leaving fans wondering what’s really going on.
In 2014, Vietnamese developer Dong Nguyen shocked the gaming world by pulling Flappy Bird from the App Store and Google Play Store. Despite the game’s massive success—reportedly earning tens of thousands of dollars a day—Nguyen felt overwhelmed by the sudden fame. He remarked, “I can call Flappy Bird a success of mine. But it also ruins my simple life. So now I hate it.” Since then, he has largely stayed out of the spotlight.
Fast forward ten years, an organization calling itself the Flappy Bird Foundation has announced plans to resurrect the game. They released a nostalgia-heavy trailer that notably omits any mention of Nguyen. Established in 2023, the Foundation claims to be “led by a dedicated team of passionate fans and industry veterans who share a deep love for Flappy Bird and sought to rescue the iconic gameplay and IP for the community of over 100 million enthusiasts.”
At the forefront of this revival is Michael Roberts, introduced as the “chief creative” behind Flappy Bird’s return. Roberts is the founder of 1208 Productions, a mobile game developer deeply involved with NFTs and cryptocurrency, including the NFT brand ‘Deez.’ This connection has raised eyebrows, especially among fans wary of crypto integration into beloved classics.
Digging deeper, it appears that the Flappy Bird Foundation asserts ownership by having “acquired” the official Flappy Bird trademark rights from a company called Gametech Holdings LLC. They also secured rights to ‘Piou Piou vs. Cactus,’ a mobile game credited with inspiring the original Flappy Bird. The trademark battle thickens as it’s revealed that Gametech had filed an opposition to Nguyen’s Flappy Bird trademark last year, claiming he had abandoned it. After Nguyen failed to respond to trademark notices, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) declared his original trademark abandoned, terminating his claim in January.
Web developer and cybersecurity researcher Varun Biniwale unearthed more intriguing details. By examining the new game’s website, he discovered references to Web 3.0 technologies and NFTs embedded in the game’s builds. This suggests that the new Flappy Bird might incorporate cryptocurrency and NFT elements, a move that could significantly alter the game’s simplistic charm.
Breaking years of silence, Nguyen took to Twitter to address the situation: “I have no involvement with the new Flappy Bird. I did not sell anything. I also don’t support crypto.” This is his first tweet since 2017, firmly distancing himself from the project’s new direction.
The Flappy Bird Foundation plans to launch its version by the end of October across multiple platforms, including web browsers, with iOS and Android versions expected sometime in 2025. However, without Nguyen’s endorsement and amid concerns over crypto integration, the reception from the gaming community remains uncertain.
Will this new iteration of Flappy Bird soar to new heights or falter under the weight of controversy? Only time will tell as fans await the game’s release.
We’ll be diving deeper into this unfolding story on the next Geek Freaks podcast. Don’t miss out—tune in here.
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