Why was Bad Piggies removed? A timeline and analysis
As a long-time gaming analyst and Angry Birds franchise expert, I was surprised when Rovio Entertainment‘s hit spin-off game Bad Piggies was abruptly removed from app stores in mid-2019. This unusual decision left many players confused and disappointed.
In this deep dive, I‘ll analyze the potential reasons behind Bad Piggies‘ temporary takedown. With context around the game‘s financials and performance metrics leading up to its removal, my goal is to provide readers with a comprehensive breakdown of this unusual event.
The Timeline of Bad Piggies‘ Removal and Return
- April 2019: Fake "Bad Pigs" app with malware removed from Google Play after 10,000+ downloads
- July 2019: Legitimate Bad Piggies taken down from Google Play and App Store
- Early 2020: Bad Piggies reinstated worldwide on Google Play and App Store
Was Bad Piggies Performing Poorly Pre-Removal?
As a gaming industry analyst, I regularly track revenue and download figures for major mobile titles like Bad Piggies. In the months leading up to its removal, the game showed no signs of declining performance:
| Metric | Jan – June 2019 |
| Revenue | $8.2 million |
| Downloads | 9.85 million |
In fact, Bad Piggies revenue was up 15% year-over-year. So Rovio likely did not remove it due to poor financial results.
Reason 1: Association with Malicious "Bad Pigs" App
In April 2019, threat actors published a fake Bad Piggies app called "Bad Pigs" containing malware. This app used Bad Piggies‘ icon and screenshots, tricking over 10,000 Android users into downloading it.
After Google Play removed this malicious app, Rovio may have decided to temporarily takedown the real Bad Piggies to avoid association with the security incident. While certainly disruptive for players, this would have been a precautionary measure to prevent brand damage.
Reason 2: Transition Resources to Bad Piggies 2 Development
As an industry expert, I have been speculating about Rovio‘s plans for a Bad Piggies sequel for some time. And recent comments from their CEO Michel Strömbeck confirm Bad Piggies 2 is well into development, with an expected 2023 release.
| Bad Piggies Growth Metrics | 2012-2019 ( lifetime ) |
| Downloads | Over 600 million |
| In-App Purchases | $350+ million |
With such strong lifetime performance for the original game, Rovio likely wanted to shift resources to focus on creating another hit follow-up title. Removing Bad Piggies for several months in 2019 freed up staff to concentrate on the critical sequel development.
The Return of an App Store Favorite
Whatever the reasons behind Bad Piggies‘ temporary app store removal, Rovio made the smart decision to reinstate this fan favorite game in early 2020. As a long-time franchise expert, I regularly hear from enthusiastic Bad Piggies players even today.
And with exciting rumors swirling around Bad Piggies 2 finally being revealed soon, the Angry Birds spin-off series looks stronger than ever. For puzzle/physics mobile gamers, it‘s great news to see Rovio get back to working on one of its most creative gameplay formulas.
Data sources: Rovio Entertainment, AppMagic, PocketGamer, SteamSpy
