According to a statement from a senior Rovio executive, the original game may return to the Play Store under the name “Red’s First Flight.” The game was removed from the Play Store because it was a paid download with no in-app purchases, which negatively impacted Rovio’s games portfolio. The company posits that users often decided not to spend money on the paid game but also avoided downloading Rovio’s other free-to-play Angry Birds games, thus harming the company’s bottom line.
If Rovio finds a solution to the current naming issue that supposedly dissuades fans from downloading its free-to-play games, we could see the classic game return to the Play Store. However, this implies that nobody wants to play Rovio’s free-to-play games, which is a worrying sign for the company’s future. Rovio could focus on releasing premium games that don’t rely on gambling mechanics and microtransactions, but that is unlikely to happen soon.
For those who owned Rovio Classics: Angry Birds before its delisting, the game is still available to download and play. It is also available on the App Store, where it is currently ranked #1 in the Puzzle category. The game is on the Play Store under the name “Red’s First Flight,” but it doesn’t appear in search and is unavailable in some regions, indicating that Rovio may be testing a new name, although this approach is somewhat confusing.
Angry Birds has been a beloved smartphone game since its initial release in 2009. Its popularity grew rapidly, with millions of users playing the game within just a few months of its release. Angry Birds is known for its simple yet addictive gameplay, where players launch birds at pigs to destroy their fortresses. It was a hit among gamers of all ages and helped pave the way for the success of mobile gaming.
The original Angry Birds game was removed from the Play Store in February 2021, leaving many fans disappointed. The game was a paid download with no in-app purchases, which was a departure from Rovio’s strategy of offering free-to-play games with in-app purchases. Rovio Classics: Angry Birds was rebranded as Red’s First Flight on the App Store, but it did not perform as well as its sequels, and it was eventually delisted from the Play Store.
However, it seems that Rovio may be reconsidering its decision to remove the original game from the Play Store. In a recent statement, a senior Rovio executive suggested that the game may return to the Play Store under the name Red’s First Flight. This news has excited many fans who have been waiting for the return of the classic game.
The decision to remove the game from the Play Store was based on Rovio’s belief that users were choosing not to spend money on the paid game and were also avoiding downloading Rovio’s other free-to-play Angry Birds games. This led to a negative impact on Rovio’s games portfolio, which prompted the removal of the original game. However, if Rovio can find a solution to the current naming issue that allegedly dissuades fans from downloading its free-to-play games, then the classic game could return to the Play Store.
While the return of the original Angry Birds game would be a welcome development for many fans, it is also a sign of the challenges that Rovio faces in the mobile gaming industry. The trend towards free-to-play games with in-app purchases has become increasingly prevalent, and Rovio will need to find a way to remain competitive in this space. It is possible that Rovio could focus on releasing premium games that do not rely on gambling mechanics and microtransactions, but this will be a difficult path to navigate.