In early 2014, millions of smartphone users were hooked on a frustrating yet addictive mobile game called Flappy Bird. Its sudden rise to the top of app stores was as rapid as its disappearance. One day, it was the #1 game on both iOS and Android. The next, it was gone.
This left everyone wondering: Why was Flappy Bird removed?
Let’s explore the real story behind the game’s removal, the rumors that followed, and what the developer had to say.
🐤 What Was Flappy Bird?
Flappy Bird was a free mobile game developed by Dong Nguyen, a Vietnamese indie developer under the brand .GEARS Studios. The game’s concept was simple: tap to make a pixelated bird fly through narrow gaps between green pipes.
Despite its minimalist design, it was incredibly hard to play, which made it incredibly addictive. Users would often spend hours trying to beat their high score—only to fail repeatedly. This difficulty became part of its charm and viral appeal.
At its peak in early 2014, Flappy Bird was earning $50,000 per day from in-app ads and had millions of downloads worldwide.
❌ Why Was Flappy Bird Removed from App Stores?
On February 9, 2014, Dong Nguyen shocked the gaming world when he announced on Twitter that he was removing Flappy Bird from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
“I am sorry Flappy Bird users, 22 hours from now, I will take Flappy Bird down. I cannot take this anymore.” — Dong Nguyen, via Twitter
Despite being one of the most successful games in mobile history at the time, Nguyen voluntarily removed the game. Here's why:
🔍 The Real Reasons Behind the Removal
1. Overwhelming Pressure & Fame
Nguyen created Flappy Bird in just a few days. He had no idea it would explode in popularity. The sudden fame brought overwhelming media attention, constant interviews, and public scrutiny. He was a shy developer who never intended to be in the spotlight.
In an interview with Forbes, Nguyen explained:
"Flappy Bird was designed to play in a few minutes when you are relaxed. But it happened to become an addictive product. I think it has become a problem."
2. Guilt Over Game Addiction
The game’s difficult mechanics made it incredibly addictive. Videos of people raging, crying, or breaking their phones while playing Flappy Bird went viral. Some parents even expressed concern over how obsessed their kids had become.
Nguyen felt responsible for the negative impact it was having on users, especially children. Rather than profit off addiction, he chose to remove it.
3. Rumors of Copyright Infringement
Though never officially confirmed, many speculated that Flappy Bird was removed due to similarities between its design and Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros.—specifically the green pipes and 8-bit graphics.
Nintendo denied taking legal action, and Nguyen never cited copyright issues directly. Still, the fear of potential legal consequences may have played a role.
🔥 Aftermath: What Happened After Flappy Bird Was Removed?
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Phones with Flappy Bird installed were listed on eBay for thousands of dollars.
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Dozens of Flappy Bird clones appeared on app stores, hoping to cash in on the hype.
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Nguyen released Flappy Birds Family, a multiplayer version, on Amazon Fire TV.
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He later developed other games like Swing Copters and Ninja Spinki Challenges!!
However, none of these reached the viral success of the original.