The return ofFlappy Bird, the iconic mobile game from 2013, should be a joyous occasion for many and a head-scratching moment for those who were too young to enjoy it when it was released. Nevertheless, it should be an innocuous affair, one that naturally garners a handful of headlines for being a fairly momentous occasion due to the original game’s legacy, but otherwise remains a brief moment of mobile gaming history that is quickly forgotten. Unfortunately, that’s absolutely not the case, as the newFlappy Birdis generating so much controversy it would have been better off staying dead.
While no one was expecting the resurrectedFlappy Birdto be one of thebest mobile gamesof all time, many were likely looking forward to returning to the glory days when tapping a bird on the iPhone 5 was a good way to spend a quick toilet break or a few minutes on the train. Alas, its new developer, the Flappy Bird Foundation, has other ideas. Rather than being a fun throwback,the new Flappy Bird is a crypto-filled messand has ties to a controversial messaging service.
The New Flappy Bird Game Has Ties To NFTs
It Is A New Web 3.0 Game
The newFlappy Birdgame is a crypto game, something fans would be forgiven for not knowing as it was not announced in theinitialFlappy Birdrevival announcement. When players boot it up in its current state, they’re told that it’s currently hosting a “flap-to-earn event,” in which players can mine points before it launches into Web 2 and Web 3. Additionally, they can connect their TON wallet, also known as The Open Network, to earn additional in-game currency.
It’s worth noting that the option to connect a TON wallet currently does not appear. However, in gameplay clips shared online, the option is visible. It is not clear what triggers the ability to add it.
While being a crypto-focused game isn’t inherently malicious, there is a trend for crypto-based products to be scams, intent on gaining as much money as possible from their users before running away. So far, the newFlappy Birdgame has shown no signs of being a scam and allows players to experience it for free without needing to interact with its crypto elements. However, it’s clearly a big part of its identity, withthe game designer behind the Flappy Bird Foundation, Michael Roberts, being into crypto, with hisX account(formerly Twitter) flooded with posts about various cryptocurrencies.
Furthermore, cyber-security researcher,Varun Biniwale, hasuncovered a page for the Flappy Bird Foundation website that confirms the Web 3 aspect. The page stated, “The legendary Flappy Bird is back and will fly higher than ever on Solana as it soars into Web 3.0 […] Flappy Bird will now be the world’s first open-source, community owned web2 and web3 game." Interestingly, that page has since been taken down, and Michael Roberts' company,1208 Productions, which promoted itself as “pioneering Web 3” now just plays a clip repeatedly, as if to scrub connections to Web 3 from theFlappy Birdgame.
The Original Flappy Bird Creator Does Not Approve
Dong Nguyen Does Not Support Flappy Bird’s Revival
Interestingly, Dong Nguyen, the original creator ofFlappy Bird, has come out and publicly spoken about the revival of his infamous game. In his post viaX, Nguyen stated clearly, “No, I have no relat[ion] with their game. I did not sell anything. I also don’t support crypto.” The most important part of the post is thatNguyen confirmed he did not sell the trademark for Flappy Bird to the Flappy Bird Foundation.
Rather, it has been revealed viaUnited States Patent and Trademark Officedocuments thatanother company called Gametech Holdings essentially just took the trademark from Nguyen in 2023 after he failed to refile it. Gametech Holdings then sold it to the Flappy Bird Foundation, allowing it to create the new version of the game. This, however, means that Nguyen will see absolutely no money despite being the original creator of the game.
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Of course, while the originalFlappy Birdwas easily one of the biggest viral mobile games of all time, Nguyen personally decided to remove it from all app stores. He toldForbesin 2014 that he wanted to remove it because it had become too “addictive.” It’s not surprising that he has no connection to the new version, as he surely wouldn’t want to see it return after all this time.
The New Flappy Bird Is Currently Playable Through Controversial App Telegram
The App Has Been Criticized For Being Used By Right-Wing Extremists And Militant Groups
One interesting wrinkle in the controversialFlappy Birdrevival is thatit’s hosting essentially an early access period via the messaging service Telegram. This isn’t inherently surprising, as Telegram allows players to engage in games through the app by using bots to send messages. It is also closely linked to TON, which has its own cryptocurrency and wallet that theFlappy Birdgame encourages players to connect to.
TON, previously known as Telegram Open Network, was developed by Telegram’s founder, Nikolai Durov, but later became independent. However, TON is still heavily used by Telegram and its users.
However, Telegram has come under immense scrutiny for its lack of restrictions on the content and usage of its messaging app. It has been well documented byThe IndependentthatTelegram is used as a communications method in far-right riots, including the likes seen in Britain, to organize attacks.Forbesalso claimed that Telegram is an “easy access version of the dark web,” warning users of the dangers it poses to their phones and data.
While the newFlappy Birdgame has nothing to do with these issues, it is a strange choice to soft launch its family-friendly mobile game on an app that is fraught with controversy. It’s not advisable to download the Telegram app, especially asFlappy Birdwill launch on all platforms at a later date. It’s a shame that a once fun mobile gamehas been subject to so much controversy, but it is also a great insight into just how much the internet and the world have changed over the last decade, although, in many ways, not for the best.
