Flappy Bird Creator Denies Involvement in Game's Alleged Return

Flappy Bird's return mired in bad vibes as the original creator weighs in

If Google wants to fill our phones with AI, it needs to give Pixels more storage Key Takeaways The Flappy Bird Foundation never claimed to work with the game's creator, Dong Nguyen; it just insinuated it did. The Foundation's rumored chief creative has ties to NFTs, hinting at possible monetization for the new Flappy Bird. The Flappy Bird revival faces controversy pre-launch due to potential cashing in and association with NFTs. Only just recently did the world learn that the mobile game sensation Flappy Bird would be coming back, thanks to its new owners, the Flappy Bird Foundation. This self-proclaimed group of fans of the original game even opened a new website to celebrate the announcement, where the site states that the group worked with the game's "predecessor." This careful wording makes it sound like the Flappy Bird Foundation worked with Dong Nguyen, the original creator, but over the last few days, he finally chimed in after a seven-year absence on X (Twitter) to deny any contact with the Flappy Bird Foundation. Ouch. Dong Nguyen having zero ties to the new Flappy Bird is bad enough, but it would appear that the Flappy Bird Foundation does have ties to Michael Roberts as its rumored chief creative, and he's the owner of 1208 Productions, which just so happens to create NFT-infested mobile games. This is especially important because cybersecurity researcher Varun Biniwale has discovered builds of Flappy Bird that indeed include reference to NFTs, which explains why Dong Nguyen's tweet mentions he doesn't support crypto. So not only has the Flappy Bird Foundation used specific language to make it sound like it cooperated with the creator of Flappy Bird when it, in fact, didn't, but it would seem the group of supposed fans may have plans to cash in on the franchise, a worry we even pointed out in our previous coverage that revealed screenshots in the game's trailer showcase egg opening mechanics that look like familiar gacha mechanics. It's also worth noting that on Friday, the Flappy Bird Foundation's X (Twitter) account disclosed that Flappy Bird will indeed return as a free-to-play release. While the foundation has yet to clearly state if the game will be monetized beyond ads like the original, things aren't looking very good for the game's revival when it's already embroiled in controversy before it even launches.

Flappy Bird's original creator does not support its revival

Just days after we learned that Flappy Bird is set to make a return later this year courtesy of the fan-made Flappy Bird Foundation, the original developer says he has "no relat[ion]" to the game. In a tweet posted to X/Twitter earlier today (15th September), original developer Doug Nguyen publicly distanced himself from the project and its leader, confirming he has played no role in the game's revival. "No, I have no related [sic] with their game. I did not sell anything," Nguyen announced on X/Twitter earlier today (Sunday, 15th September). "I also don't support crypto." It's thought Nguyen is likely referring to the project's leader, Michael Roberts, who is connected to crypto firm 1208 Productions. "Between generative AI scraping and stuff like this, this really has become the age of petty scumbag art thievery from legitimate creatives in order to generate unearned profit," commented Halfway House's animator, Tommy Millar. "It's a gross time to be a real artist, but a great time to be morally void human-shaped viruses." Flappy Bird will return this autumn, followed by dedicated mobile apps coming to iOS and Android next year, as well as other platforms. Flappy Bird grew to tremendous popularity with over 100 million people playing it, but in 2014, Nguyen removed the game from sale despite it generating a reported $50,000 a day in advertising revenue.

Original Flappy Bird developer denies involvement in game's relaunch, says "I did not sell anything" - Times of India

The iconic mobile game Flappy Bird is poised for a comeback, but its original creator wants nothing to do with it. The Flappy Bird Foundation, a newly formed organisation, announced plans to "re-hatch the official Flappy Bird game" by late October 2024 for web browsers, with mobile versions expected in 2025. However, Dong Nguyen, the Vietnamese developer behind the original viral hit, publicly distanced himself from the project in a rare tweet on September 15, 2024."No, I have no related [sic] with their game," Nguyen stated. "I did not sell anything. I also don't support crypto." The Flappy Bird Foundation claims to have "acquired the rights from Gametech Holdings, LLC," framing the relaunch as a triumphant return of the classic mobile title. The organisation describes itself as a team of "passionate fans and industry veterans" committed to preserving the Flappy Bird IP. Reports suggest that Gametech Holdings successfully filed to terminate Nguyen's Flappy Bird trademark in early 2024. The US Patent and Trademark Office had determined the trademark to be abandoned, nearly a decade after Nguyen pulled the game from app stores in 2014, citing concerns over its addictive nature. Cybersecurity researcher Varun Biniwale uncovered hidden pages on the new Flappy Bird website, suggesting potential cryptocurrency integration. The pages, since removed, mentioned the game would "fly higher than ever on Solana as it soars into web 3.0." The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk's news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.