We’ve some bad news for Flappy Bird fans.
Dong Nguyen, the developer of Flappy Bird, the unexpected smash hit, that is breaking records for its atmospheric climb to the top of iOS App Store charts, has just announced that he’ll remove the game from the App Store.
This comes as a big surprise to us, as the game was generating an impressive $50,000 each day in advertising revenues, and has been downloaded more than 50 million times.
Flappy Bird is is known for its 8-bit graphics and difficult gameplay that challenges players to fly a bird through a pipe maze. It took Dong a few after-work coding sessions to complete the app and he has no plans to change or update it.
Nguyen has insisted that the press has overrating the success of the game, which is something he doesn’t want. He seemed to be uncomfortable with the attention and success the game has brought him, and wanted some peace.
Press people are overrating the success of my games. It is something I never want. Please give me peace.
— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 4, 2014
He has clarified that the removal of the game from the App Store is not related to any legal issue, and he doesn’t plan to sell it either, though he plans to continue making games.
I am sorry 'Flappy Bird' users, 22 hours from now, I will take 'Flappy Bird' down. I cannot take this anymore.
— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 8, 2014
It is not anything related to legal issues. I just cannot keep it anymore.
— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 8, 2014
I also don't sell 'Flappy Bird', please don't ask.
— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 8, 2014
And I still make games.
— Dong Nguyen (@dongatory) February 8, 2014
It doesn’t seem to be a marketing stunt as he released an update for the game yesterday, which removed all the social sharing features from the game.
So if you still haven’t downloaded the game, then download it (iTunes link) now before it is removed from the App Store.
Are you disappointed that the game is being removed from the App Store or just confused like me?
Update 1:
The game is still available in the App Store. Interestingly, the developer had added new birds, improved the frame rate, updated the UI and fixed few bugs couple of days back. Do you think it is a marketing stunt?
Update 2:
As promised, Dong Nguyen has removed FlappyBird from the App Store.