The developers at Rovio, known in particular for the Angry Birds games, have decided to withdraw the remake of the first opus from the Google Play Store. The cause ? The title obviously overshadows the studio’s other free-to-play games a little too much. Explanations.
We no longer present Angry Birds. The angry little birds created by the Rovio teams have become cult over the years, even to the point of being adapted for the cinema in an eponymous animated film.
Since the release of the 1st part on iOS in December 2009, Rovio developers have launched a veritable galaxy of Angry Birds gamescomposed in particular of Angry Birds Friends, Journey, Dream Blast or even Angry Birds Evolution and Angry Birds 2.
In April 2022, Rovio gave fans an unexpected gift by releasing Rovio Classics: Angry Birds, a brand new remake of the first game. On this occasion, the studio decides to apply an entry ticket for the game, namely €0.99 (€1.19 now)while the other titles of the license are all free.
A remake far too popular in the eyes of Rovio
For many players, it’s a cheap price, especially to find the levels of the first Angry Birds without advertising or microtransactions. In fact, the game has obviously found its audience. But rather incongruously, the massive success for the Angry Bird remake doesn’t suit Rovioquite the contrary.
In an official statement posted on Twitter on February 21, 2023, the studio announces to everyone’s surprise the outright removal of the game from the Google Play Store, starting February 23. The reason ? The popularity of the Angry Birds remake visibly harms the profitability of other titles in the Rovio catalog.
“We have reviewed the business case for Rovio Classics: Angry Birds, and due to the game’s impact on our broader game portfolio, we have decided that Rovio Classics: Angry Birds will be delisting from the Google Play Store on Thursday. February 23r”, writes the studio on the social network.
A paid remake that overshadows the studio’s free games
If the game will therefore disappear from the Google store, it will remain available on the App Store… Under another name, namely Red’s First Flight. Rather clever as a method. iOS players who type Angry Birds on the App Store will inevitably come across the license’s free-to-play games, and not the paid remake. And who says free-to-play means ads and microtransactions, and by extension more money for the studio.
Note that if you have already purchased Rovio Classics: Angry Birds on both Android and iOS, you will still be able to launch the game after it is removed from the Play Store and renamed on the App Store.
