Flappy Bird Reborn as Crypto Game Amid Controversy and Creator’s Objection

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Hongji Feng

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Hongji Feng

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Hongji is a crypto and tech reporter. He graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a Bachelor's and a Master's. He has previously interned at HTX (Huobi Global),...

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September 16, 2024 17:16 EDT

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Flappy Bird was relaunched as a crypto game on Telegram on September 15, sparking controversy after the original creator distanced himself from the new version.

According to a Telegram channel where the game is now available, Flappy Bird’s return is part of a collaboration with Notcoin, a Telegram-based web3 game.

Original Creator Dong Nguyen Speaks Out

“Join a team, crack open daily eggs, and earn points for your flock,” the @Flappybirdbot channel read. “Top teams each week will snag some awesome prizes.”

The new Flappy Bird relaunch focuses on integrating with The Open Network (TON), introducing blockchain elements like token rewards through a “Flap-a-TON” event.

However, its creator, Dong Nguyen, has denied any involvement in the project and has expressed his disapproval of the crypto integration.

“No, I have no related with their game. I did not sell anything,” said Nguyen.

“I also don’t support crypto,” he said.

In early 2014, Nguyen decided to remove the game from digital stores. He made this choice after the game unexpectedly became a global sensation, with players becoming highly addicted to its challenging mechanics.

Nguyen expressed discomfort with the sudden fame and intense reactions from users, as he did not foresee the game having such a widespread and, in some cases, negative impact on people’s lives.

“I am sorry ‘Flappy Bird’ users, 22 hours from now, I will take ‘Flappy Bird’ down. I cannot take this anymore,” wrote Nguyen in the statement before taking the game down.

More Suspicion Looms Over the Relaunch

The trademark dispute has also greatly contributed to the game’s return. After a legal challenge, Gametech Holdings took ownership of the trademark, later transferring it to The Flappy Bird Foundation Group.

According to cybersecurity researcher Varun Biniwale, the “official” page of the game’s relaunch does not look exactly right either.

“With its overly polished look, the art feels eerily similar to the countless clones that have flooded the market over the years,” stated Biniwale. “After all, Flappy Bird is one of the most cloned games of all time.”