Flappy Bird Returns Exclusively for Android Users
Flappy Bird, the mobile game that gained notoriety for its addictive yet challenging gameplay, has made a comeback and is now exclusively available for Android users through the Epic Games store. Originally developed by Dong Nguyen in 2013, the game was removed from app stores in 2014 but has now been resurrected under new management by Flappy Bird Publishing.
The revived version of the game includes the beloved Classic mode with its familiar one-tap controls and pipe navigation, as well as a new Quest mode featuring unlockable worlds with unique themes and increasingly difficult obstacles. Developers have promised regular updates throughout 2025, introducing new characters, worlds, and themes while steering clear of Web3 elements in favor of traditional ads and in-app purchases for revenue.
Epic Games Store Struggles to Meet Installation Goals
Despite its legal battles with tech giants Apple and Google, Epic’s mobile Games Store has been facing challenges in gaining traction, as revealed by Mobile Gamer’s analysis of the platform’s performance against its ambitious targets. The store had set a goal of reaching 100 million installs by the end of 2024, but as of January 2025, it had only achieved fewer than 30 million installs and has since remained relatively quiet.
While Epic’s legal victories have had positive impacts on the mobile game industry, they have not significantly increased competition between app stores. Instead, developers are leveraging the changes to direct high-spending players to web shops where they can avoid platform taxes. Observers at Mobile Gamer suggest that Epic’s mobile store risks becoming primarily a Fortnite launcher, with limited success for other games in its catalog.
The Need for Alternative Marketplaces on iPhones
The existence of alternative marketplaces like the Epic Games store on Android underscores the necessity for similar options on iPhones, as highlighted by How-To Geek’s analysis of digital marketplace competition. Currently, Apple maintains strict control over app distribution outside the European Union, where alternative app stores are now mandated by law.
Competition in app marketplaces benefits consumers through improved pricing and innovation, and How-To Geek argues that Apple’s tight control comes at a cost despite security advantages. Epic’s strategy of offering developers incentives, such as retaining 100% of revenue during the first six months of exclusivity, could encourage more developers to bring their apps to different platforms, addressing concerns about the difficulty of finding quality apps on crowded first-party stores.
While Apple upholds baseline security reviews for all software, regardless of distribution channel, third-party marketplaces could offer niche apps that do not meet Apple’s stringent guidelines. This was evident in Apple’s recent policy change allowing emulators only after facing competitive pressure from alternative stores in the EU.
