Get this iconic game before it disappears

One of the most iconic mobile games of all time is disappearing forever in just a few days, prompting fans to download it now.

Rovio, the mobile game developer behind the popular Angry Birds series, has announced that its most iconic game will soon be removed from the Google Play Store.

In a statement made on Twitter, the company announced that it would be removing Rovio Classics: Angry Birds from purchase on Android devices, and renaming the game entirely on iOS devices.

Rovio Classics: Angry Birds is a ground-up remake of the original Angry Birds game that was first released in 2009. The physics-based puzzle game became an instant hit, attracting millions of downloads and spawning a franchise that spans movies, television series, and over a dozen games.

The remake was released on Android and iOS in March 2022, and was a paid purchase on both app stores. It removed in-app purchases from the game, instead charging an upfront fee of $1.79 to cover its costs.

Angry Birds inspired multiple games and movies, as well as an animated TV show. Picture: Sony Pictures.

Rovio says that the game is being removed “due to the game’s impact” on the company’s portfolio of games, but stresses that players who have already downloaded the game can continue to play it.

“We have reviewed the business case of Rovio Classics: Angry Birds, and due to the game’s impact on our wider games portfolio, we have decided that Rovio Classics: Angry Birds will be unlisted from the Google Play Store on Thursday, February 23,” the company said in a statement.

“Additionally, the game will be renamed to Red’s First Flight in the App Store pending further review,” it continued, “Rovio Classics: Angry Bird will remain playable on devices on which the game has been downloaded, even after it has been unlisted”.

Please read below for an important announcement regarding the availability of Rovio Classics: Angry Birds. pic.twitter.com/a4n4bU5gQJ

— Rovio (@Rovio) February 21, 2023

The company also pointed to other games, such as Angry Birds 2 and Angry Birds Friends, as alternatives for players who feel they’re missing out.

While Rovio did not specify what the impact of the game was on its portfolio, it’s likely that the one-off purchase business model for the game is the reason for its removal.

Mobile games often make money through ongoing in-app purchases, and given the similar gameplay between this game and other live service Angry Bird games, it’s possible players were choosing to play that instead of other games. By pushing fans to play free-to-start games instead, Rovio has a higher chance of making more money through in-app purchases.

Rovio isn’t the only developer pulling mobile games from storefronts. Recently, EA cancelled two mobile games, an in-development Battlefield game and the already-released Apex Legends Mobile.

Those looking to play more games on their phones should check out the best Netflix games to download and play. Every Netflix subscriber has dozens of high quality mobile games available to them at no extra cost as part of their subscription.

Written by Oliver Brandt on behalf of GLHF.