Dong Nguyen, the original creator of Flappy Bird, has publicly distanced himself from a recent attempt to revive the game, which has sparked controversy due to its apparent connections to cryptocurrency. Nguyen, who had been silent on social media for several years, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on September 15 to clarify that he is not involved in the relaunch and strongly disapproves of any association with crypto.
Trademark Controversy and Crypto Speculation
This revival effort comes from a group calling itself The Flappy Bird Foundation, which recently announced plans to re-release the 2013 hit. In a post on X, the group claimed that they had secured the legal rights to the game and even collaborated with Nguyen’s “predecessor.” However, Nguyen responded firmly, stating, “I did not sell anything,” and further adding, “I also don’t support crypto.”
The foundation obtained the rights to Flappy Bird through a company called Gametech Holdings LLC. According to public records, Gametech successfully opposed Nguyen’s claim to the Flappy Bird trademark in 2023. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) ruled in favor of Gametech after determining that Nguyen had abandoned the trademark, which effectively ended his legal ties to the game.
The Legacy of Flappy Bird
First released in May 2013, Flappy Bird was a simple yet addictive mobile game where players tapped their screens to guide a bird through a series of obstacles. By early 2014, the game became a viral sensation, topping download charts and reportedly earning Nguyen around $50,000 a day at its peak. Despite its success, Nguyen abruptly pulled the game from app stores in 2014, citing concerns over the game’s addictive nature.
Crypto Ties to the New Version
Recent findings suggest that the revived Flappy Bird might feature ties to cryptocurrency. Researcher Varun Biniwale uncovered hidden web pages linked to the Flappy Bird Foundation that hinted at a potential “play-to-earn” game model involving the Solana blockchain. These pages, which have since been taken down, suggested that players could engage in staking, token rewards, and even participate in free airdrops.
Biniwale also discovered a prototype for the new game that mentioned a $FLAP token, reportedly linked to the Telegram-integrated TON blockchain. A pop-up on the prototype referenced a “flap-to-earn” event, indicating that the game may feature elements similar to popular crypto-based tap-to-earn games on Telegram.
Concerns Over Crypto Intentions
The individual leading the game’s development is Michael Roberts, the head of studio at 1208 Production, a crypto game development company. On his LinkedIn, Roberts claimed to have “spearheaded the return of Flappy Bird.” While Roberts has not commented publicly on the project, Biniwale expressed skepticism about its motives, suggesting that it may be an attempt to capitalize on the nostalgic appeal of the original game while integrating cryptocurrency and Web3 elements for profit.
As of now, Nguyen has made it clear that he has no affiliation with this revived project and does not support its crypto-related direction.
