Just over a decade after its 2013 release–and its surprisingly quick removal from app stores–the immensely 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 both the official Flappy Bird trademark and the rights to Piou Piou vs. Cactus, the mobile game upon which Flappy Bird’s titular character is based.
“It’s been a decade-long, convoluted journey to get here, but we’re so excited to finally begin sharing Flappy Bird once again with the world,” a spokesperson for the Flappy Bird Foundation said of the game’s upcoming reboot.
The Flappy Bird Foundation says that “the return of the viral game will debut in Fall 2024,” but added, “Launches on iOS and Google Play are planned for 2025.” GameSpot has reached out to the Flappy Bird Foundation for clarification, but it seems that players will get a taste of the game sometime near the end of 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 in 2025 for iOS and Android, with other platforms to be announced,” read a press release from the Flappy Bird Foundation, suggesting players may even see a console launch at some point.
The original Flappy Bird launched in May 2013 for iOS and January 2014 for Android, but was removed from both Google Play and the App Store on February 10, 2014, after its creator, Vietnamese game developer Dong Nguyen, became overwhelmed by the popularity of the game–and its addictive nature.
Given the fact that the fan-founded Flappy Bird Foundation has acquired the rights to the game, one would think that Nguyen might have made a bit of money from the sale, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. It appears that the trademark for Flappy Bird was considered abandoned, which may have allowed the creators of the reboot to get their hands on the IP for free, though the details remain unclear. GameSpot has reached out to the Flappy Bird foundation for comments regarding the acquisition of the trademark.
Nguyen has yet to make a statement on the game’s 2025 revival, but Michael Roberts–the chief creative behind the return of the game–seems ecstatic to be helming the return of the game, which includes a number of new gameplay features, like new game modes, characters, progression, and “massive multiplayer challenges for the world to flap together.”
“We are beyond excited to be bringing back Flappy Bird and delivering a fresh 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!”
