Rovio, the Finnish game studio famous for the Angry Birds franchise, has announced a meaningful adjustment for Rovio Classics: Angry Birds. The title will be removed from the Google Play Store on February 23 as Rovio reconsiders its place within the studio’s wide lineup. The move is presented as a strategic realignment intended to better align the product with the overall direction of Rovio’s game portfolio in North America and beyond, including the United States and Canada.
After the Google Play removal, players who already have the game installed will still be able to enjoy it on Android devices. Rovio also revealed plans to rename the iOS version on the App Store to Red’s First Flight, a change that will accompany ongoing support for Apple devices.
Angry Birds debuted on December 11, 2009, initially on iOS. The title quickly became a global sensation, spawning a range of spin-offs, updates, and extra gameplay experiences that expanded the brand well beyond its first release. For viewers in Canada and the United States, the legacy of the game has become a touchstone for a generation of mobile play and accessible entertainment.
The core gameplay remains straightforward and compelling: launch birds from a slingshot to topple structures and defeat green pigs concealed within buildings. Progress is earned by clearing each level of pigs, which unlocks the next challenge and the opportunity to explore new stage designs and strategies.
In 2022 the project underwent a modernization effort, adopting a contemporary game engine to boost performance and cross platform compatibility. The refresh enabled Rovio to adapt the title for a broader array of devices and operating environments, while preserving the familiar mechanics that defined the original experience. This update also helped ensure smoother play on modern hardware and in varied network conditions across North American markets.
The decision signals a wider industry pattern in which developers continually reassess older titles to better fit current business priorities, platform strategies, and user expectations. For fans in the United States and Canada, the shift highlights how long running franchises can persist and evolve, even as individual releases rise and fall within digital storefronts. It also invites discussions about game preservation, porting, and how titles live on in alternative forms or under renamed identities across different app ecosystems. (Source attribution and industry context provided by Rovio communications and market observers.)