When Flappy Bird shot to fame in early 2014, it became one of the most downloaded and talked-about mobile games in the world. Its sudden popularity stunned both players and industry experts alike. But just as quickly as it rose, it vanished. On February 10, 2014, its creator, Dong Nguyen, took the game down from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, leaving millions of fans confused and disappointed. The question on everyone’s mind was—why?
Dong Nguyen, an indie game developer from Hanoi, Vietnam, developed Flappy Bird in just a few days. It was initially released in May 2013 with little attention. But by January 2014, it had become a viral sensation. With over 50 million downloads, simple retro-style graphics, and infuriatingly difficult gameplay, Flappy Bird became the ultimate test of patience. Social media buzzed with users posting screenshots of their high scores, while others shared their frustration over the game’s difficulty.
Despite the success, Dong Nguyen shocked the gaming world when he tweeted, “I am sorry 'Flappy Bird' users, 22 hours from now, I will take 'Flappy Bird' down. I cannot take this anymore.” True to his word, the game disappeared from the stores the next day. Nguyen later explained in interviews that the game had become too addictive and that the attention it brought into his life was more than he could handle.
Nguyen never intended Flappy Bird to be a massive hit. He described himself as a simple man who made games for fun. He felt overwhelmed by the intense media scrutiny, hate mail, and unexpected fame. More importantly, he said he was disturbed by how addicted people were becoming to his game. Parents wrote to him complaining about their children’s obsession with it, and users admitted to being consumed by trying to beat their own high scores.
There were rumors that Nintendo had pressured Nguyen to take the game down due to its pipe graphics resembling Super Mario Bros. However, Nguyen denied any legal action was involved. His decision was voluntary and based on personal and ethical concerns.
In the end, Dong Nguyen chose peace over profit. Despite reportedly earning $50,000 a day from ad revenue, he removed the game to preserve his own well-being and out of concern for players. His decision remains one of the most talked-about moments in mobile gaming history, and Flappy Bird continues to be remembered as a cultural phenomenon that burned bright—and vanished just as fast.