One of the biggest phenomena in the mobile gaming world – Flappy Bird – has officially returned. But this comeback has nothing to do with crypto or Web3 like the controversial version on Telegram last year. What is happening and why is the game turning its back on the blockchain world?
Returning to the Epic Games Store, saying no to Web3
After years of absence, Flappy Bird has officially returned on Android through the Epic Games Store platform. According to announcements from the new development team, this version is a 'Web2-only release' – meaning it contains no Web3 or cryptocurrency elements.
The game retains the classic gameplay: tap the screen to control the bird flying through pipes, but adds a quest mode to increase the excitement. The game's revenue will come from ads and in-app purchases, rather than crypto activities like the previous version.
"The Flappy Bird app on the Epic Games Store will never integrate any Web3 elements," the release team emphasized.
Revived amidst controversy: Telegram and FLAP token
Before reappearing on Android, Flappy Bird had a 'cryptoized' version last September run by a new group called Flappy Bird Foundation. This group acquired the brand rights and released the game as a mini app on the Telegram messaging platform, accompanied by a campaign to mine the FLAP token on The Open Network blockchain (\u003cc-36/\u003e).
However, the community's reaction was completely contrary to expectations. Players criticized the campaign as an effort to "exploit the old name to earn tokens," especially when the original founder – Dong Nguyen – reappeared on social media after 7 years to... deny involvement:
"I have nothing to do with that game. I am not selling anything. I also do not support crypto." – Dong Nguyen wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Compared to famous 'tap-to-earn' games like Notcoin or Hamster Kombat, the Flappy Bird version on Telegram did not generate similar appeal and had a significantly lower number of players.
Telegram game halted, FLAP token remains... silent
In early April, the Telegram version officially ended its 'mining' phase – meaning players no longer receive rewards. Although the introduction still mentions that there will be 'airdrops' in the future, there has been no official announcement regarding the release of the FLAP token.
On the official X account, \u003ct-71/\u003e Foundation had to clarify:
"Currently, there is no official Flappy Bird token. Any token claiming to be the official one is a scam."
"There is also no official Web3 game from Flappy Bird at this point."
Is there still a chance for Flappy Bird to enter the crypto world?
Although they have completely separated the new release from crypto, the development team has not entirely shut the door on Web3. Instead of using the main account, they chose to post game announcements through a secondary account named Flappy Bird Publishing – as a way to create a boundary between the Web2 version and future Web3 plans.
They declare:
"Any announcements related to Web3 from Flappy Bird – if any – will be made from this account."
Impact on the crypto market and Binance users?
Flappy Bird's 'non-crypto' comeback demonstrates a reality: not every famous brand can easily transition to Web3. Especially in the context of an increasing number of play-to-earn projects facing skepticism about sustainability and transparency.
For users in the crypto ecosystem in general and users on Binance in particular, this event serves as an important reminder: be wary of projects that leverage old names to issue unverified tokens. Checking the origin, development team, and official information is always a necessary step before investing or participating in ‘Web3’ games.
Conclusion
Flappy Bird has chosen a safer path: focusing on pure gaming experience, unrelated to blockchain, tokens, or Web3. Whether the future will reopen the door to crypto or not, this comeback may help the game regain goodwill from the community after a long period of controversy.
Risk warning
The cryptocurrency market always carries many risks and strong volatility. The content of this article is intended to provide information and should not be considered as investment advice. Always be cautious and conduct thorough research before making any financial decisions.