Flappy Bird Creator — Who Also Took Game Down 10 Years Ago — Denies Involvement in New Version

"I have no [relation to] their game," said Flappy Bird creator Dong Nguyen in a post on X

Flappy Bird, the game that many were obsessed with a decade ago, may be coming back, but its original creator is not involved.

On Sept. 12, it was announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the beloved game was returning. "I AM BACK!!" read an update on the game's official account.

"Just a decade ago, I was the talk of the town and soaring to new heights with my 100 million friends," read the message. "Sadly, I had to leave the fame and spotlight behind to go home and find out who I really am."

"Thanks to my super Flappy Bird® fans, I’m refreshed, reinvigorated, and ready to soar again," the message continued. "The decade-long mission involved acquiring legal rights and even working with my predecessor to uncage me and re-hatch the official Flappy Bird® game!"

However, Flappy Bird creator Dong Nguyen has denied any involvement. "No, I have no [relation to] their game. I did not sell anything," he wrote in a social media post on Sept. 15.

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For those unfamiliar, Flappy Bird was released in 2013. The retro-themed game involved navigating a bird around columns, making sure it wouldn't hit the obstructions.

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According to Engadget, the game made $50,000 a day in advertising when it reached unprecedented popularity in early 2014.

But that February, Nguyen announced that he had taken the game offline. "I am sorry 'Flappy Bird' users, 22 hours from now, I will take 'Flappy Bird' down," he wrote in a Feb. 8 post on X. "I cannot take this anymore," he added.

He told Forbes days later that he wanted the game to be a relaxing activity, but it became "an addictive product." "I think it has become a problem. To solve that problem, it's best to take down Flappy Bird. It's gone forever."

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After the game was pulled, The Daily Beast reported that people online started selling smartphones that had the game installed for up to $100,000 on eBay. But once the game was taken down, Gametech Holdings, LLC., was able to terminate Nguyen's trademark, according to TechCrunch and per USPTO records obtained by PEOPLE.

The Flappy Bird Foundation then acquired the rights from Gametech Holdings. The group also filed in opposition of Nguyen's trademark in 2023, per The Verge.

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In Nguyen's post denying his involvement in the new version, he ended by writing, "I also don't support crypto."

While it's unclear why Nguyen referred to in his statement cybersecurity researcher Varun Biniwale noted that "some pages" on the Flappy Bird website suggest there might be a cryptocurrency element when the game launches, as The Verge reported.

PEOPLE Magazine reached out to the game and Nguyen for additional comment.

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