According to Finnish game developer Rovio, the iconic game Angry Birds will be removed from the Google Play app store on Thursday, February 23, 2023. The decision was made after the company reviewed the Rovio Classics: Angry Birds business case and its influence on the gaming portfolio. Even when it is removed from Google Play, the game will continue to work on devices where it is already installed.
Since the original Angry Birds in 2009 on the iPhone, Rovio has released over ten different expansions and versions. The game was later ported to browsers and other mobile and gaming platforms, including Android. Angry Birds immediately became a cult classic, inspiring the creation of two full-length animated films, “Angry Birds the Movie.”
According to Rovio, the success of the company’s newer games, such as Angry Birds 2, Angry Birds Dream Blast, Angry Birds Friends, Angry Birds Journey, Angry Birds Reloaded, and Angry Birds Minecraft, was affected by the old Angry Birds game. As a result, the decision was made to remove it from Google Play to allow the company’s more current initiatives to thrive.
Despite being banned from Google Play, the game will remain available on the Apple App Store under a different name, Red’s First Flight, pending further review. This move shows that Rovio is focused on other games and initiatives. While this may be disappointing news for fans of the original game, it is reasonable that the corporation must prioritise its business interests.
