Remember Flappy Bird? When it was first released in 2013, it quickly became one of the biggest mobile games, due largely to popular YouTubers, such as PewDiePie, playing and getting frustrated with it. In less than a year, the app had been downloaded more than fifty million times, shooting developer Dong Nguyen to unforeseen success and wealth. The newfound fame was apparently too much for Nguyen, however, and he had the game removed from the App Store in February of 2014.
Despite its removal from digital retailers, those who already owned the Flappy Bird app were able to hold onto it on their phones. New phone updates meant that the game was constantly becoming outdated, but many were able to use backdoor means to keep playing it. It appears, however, that those days are over and now players will have to choose between continuing to play the game or updating their phones.
According to Polygon, the new iOS 11 operating system does not support 32-bit games like Flappy Bird. Attempting to play the game with iOS 11 will simply prompt the message, “The developer of this app needs to update it to work with iOS 11.” Nguyen has stated, to no one’s surprise, that he will not be updating the game, meaning those who choose to update their phones to iOS 11 will be unable to play the game henceforth.
While I’m sure there will continue to be people who simply don’t update their phones so they can keep playing the game, it seems that this update truly marks the end of an era. Good night, sweet prince.
