In early 2014, Flappy Bird became a global gaming sensation. This deceptively simple mobile game took over smartphones, trended on social media, and generated thousands of YouTube rage compilations. But just as quickly as it rose to fame, it vanished—leaving millions to ask: Why was Flappy Bird taken down?
Despite rumors and misinformation, the real story is less about legal drama and more about personal choice, mental health, and ethical concerns. Let’s break down what actually happened.
🐤 What Was Flappy Bird?
Flappy Bird was a free mobile game created by Vietnamese developer Dong Nguyen under his indie game studio, .GEARS. Released in May 2013, it featured 8-bit style graphics, a flappy bird character, and green pipes reminiscent of Nintendo’s Super Mario series.
The gameplay was incredibly simple: tap to make the bird fly through pipes without hitting them. But its difficulty level was brutal—and that’s what made it so addictive.
By early 2014, Flappy Bird was the most downloaded game on the App Store and Google Play. It was reportedly earning over $50,000 per day in ad revenue.
❌ Why Was Flappy Bird Taken Down?
On February 9, 2014, the game was suddenly removed from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This abrupt action sparked rumors of legal issues, bans, and secret takedown notices.
However, the truth is that Flappy Bird wasn’t banned or forcibly removed. It was voluntarily taken down by its developer, Dong Nguyen.
He tweeted just a day before the removal:
“I am sorry Flappy Bird users, 22 hours from now, I will take Flappy Bird down. I cannot take this anymore.” — @dongatory
💬 The Real Reasons Why Flappy Bird Was Taken Down
1. Overwhelming Pressure and Mental Health
Nguyen developed Flappy Bird in just a few days, and he never expected it to become a viral hit. The sudden surge of attention, media interviews, and public scrutiny overwhelmed him.
In an interview with Forbes, Nguyen stated:
"The game was designed to be played for a few minutes when you are relaxed, but it happened to become an addictive product. I think it has become a problem."
The intense spotlight affected his mental health, and he decided to step back.
2. Guilt Over Addictive Gameplay
Flappy Bird’s difficulty made it both addictive and frustrating. Users reported playing it for hours, and some even damaged their phones in frustration. Parents expressed concern over the impact it was having on children.
Nguyen began to feel guilty that the game was causing stress and obsession, rather than fun. He didn't want to be responsible for a product that people were becoming addicted to.
3. Rumors of Copyright Issues (Unconfirmed)
Though never officially confirmed, many believed that Flappy Bird’s pipes—similar to those in Nintendo’s Mario games—may have led to potential copyright concerns.
While Nintendo denied pursuing legal action, the fear of possible lawsuits may have contributed to Nguyen’s decision.
🕹️ What Happened After the Game Was Taken Down?
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Phones with Flappy Bird installed were sold online for thousands of dollars.
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The app was cloned endlessly, flooding the market with copycat games.
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Dong Nguyen released a few more titles, including Swing Copters and Flappy Birds Family for Amazon Fire TV.
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Despite his silence, Nguyen remained a respected figure in the indie developer community.