Just over a decade after its 2013 release — and surprisingly quick removal from app stores — the wildly popular Flappy Bird is finally returning to mobile devices (and potentially other platforms) in 2025.
The project is being developed by the Flappy Bird Foundation, which describes itself as a “team of passionate fans committed to sharing the game with the world.” The Flappy Bird Foundation group has acquired the rights to the official Flappy Bird brand and the rights to Piou Piou vs. Cactus, the mobile game on which the main character of Flappy Bird is based.
“It’s been a long and winding ten-year journey to get to this point, but we’re so excited to finally start sharing Flappy Bird with the world again,” a Flappy Bird Foundation spokesperson said of the game’s upcoming reboot.
The Flappy Bird Foundation says that “the return of the viral game will begin in fall 2024,” but adds, “Launches on iOS and Google Play are planned for 2025.” GameSpot has reached out to the Flappy Bird Foundation for clarification, but it appears that players will get their first taste of the game in late 2024, before the game officially launches on browsers and mobile devices in 2025.
“Flappy Bird will return to a variety of platforms, including web browsers and new dedicated apps planned for 2025 for iOS and Android, with additional platforms to be announced,” reads a press release from the Flappy Bird Foundation, suggesting that players could even see a console launch at some point.
The original Flappy Bird was released in May 2013 for iOS and in January 2014 for Android, but was removed from Google Play and the App Store on February 10, 2014, after its creator, Vietnamese game developer Dong Nguyen, became overwhelmed by the game's popularity – and addictive nature.
I can say that “Flappy Bird” is a success for me. But it also ruins my simple life. So now I hate it.
— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 8, 2014
Given that the fan-founded Flappy Bird Foundation acquired the rights to the game, one would think that Nguyen could have made some money from the sale, but that doesn't appear to be the case. According to court documents, it appears that the Flappy Bird trademark was deemed abandoned, which may have allowed the reboot's creators to get their hands on the intellectual property for free, though the specifics remain unclear. GameSpot has reached out to the Flappy Bird Foundation for comment regarding the trademark acquisition.
Nguyen has yet to make a statement about the game's 2025 revival, but Michael Roberts, the lead creator behind the game's return, seems excited to lead the game's return, which includes a number of new gameplay features, such as new game modes, new characters, progression, and “massive multiplayer challenges for the world to come together.”
“We are beyond excited to bring back Flappy Bird and deliver a new experience that will keep players engaged for years to come,” Roberts said of the game’s return. “We have big plans for our little Bird!”