Rovio: Difference between revisions
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|Type=Subsidiary | |Type=Subsidiary | ||
|Website=https://rovio.com | |Website=https://rovio.com | ||
|Description=Finnish mobile game developer known for the ''Angry Birds'' series. In the 2020s, the original games were delisted and | |Description=Finnish mobile game developer known for the ''Angry Birds'' series. In the 2020s, the original games were delisted and forced users to accept arbitration clause. | ||
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====Privacy==== | ====Privacy==== | ||
According to the privacy policy, Rovio uses third party cookies for advertising in their games and . Rovio also shares player data with "persons or companies outside of the Rovio group that provide services to us and process data on our behalf when providing those services", which can include [[Facebook]] and [[Google]]. | According to the privacy policy, Rovio uses third party [[Web cookie|cookies]] for advertising in their games and . Rovio also shares player data with "persons or companies outside of the Rovio group that provide services to us and process data on our behalf when providing those services", which can include [[Facebook]] and [[Google]]. | ||
====Business model==== | ====Business model==== | ||
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==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
===Delisting of games (2019)=== | ===Delisting of games (2019)=== | ||
In 2019, a majority of the Angry Birds games made from 2009-2014 were delisted from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Originally, the delistings were for "testing purposes".<ref>[https://x.com/AngryBirds/status/1156820806460219392 "HI Jordan, we've removed some of our older titles from app stores for testing purposes. Stay tuned!" - @AngryBirds (August 1, 2019)]</ref> The updated reasoning from Rovio was due to "changing devices and marketplace requirements".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://roviosupport.helpshift.com/hc/en/5-rovio-entertainment/faq/2271-i-can-no-longer-find-my-old-angry-birds-games-in-the-store/|title=I can no longer find my old Angry Birds games in the Store.|date=2024-01-02|work=Rovio Entertainment Support|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008124843/https://roviosupport.helpshift.com/hc/en/5-rovio-entertainment/faq/2271-i-can-no-longer-find-my-old-angry-birds-games-in-the-store/|archive-date=2024-10-08|url-status=live}}</ref> This unexpected delisting caused fans of the series to utilize the "#BringBack2012" hashtag on social media sites such as [[Facebook]] and [[Twitter]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brockpress.com/rovio-the-company-behind-angry-birds-is-entirely-responsible-for-its-own-downfall/|title=Rovio, the company behind Angry Birds, is entirely responsible for its own downfall|first=Christian|last=Roethling|date=2024-02-14|work=Brockpress|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927124322/https://brockpress.com/rovio-the-company-behind-angry-birds-is-entirely-responsible-for-its-own-downfall/|archive-date=2024-09-27|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2021, a remake of the original ''Angry Birds'' game titled "''Rovio Classics: Angry Birds''" was in the works.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rovio.com/articles/bringing-back-2012-angry-birds-sets-a-flightpath-for-a-re-release/|title=Bringing Back 2012 – Dev Diary 1: Angry Birds sets a flightpath for a re release|date=2021-11-23|work=Rovio|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241010145252/https://www.rovio.com/articles/bringing-back-2012-angry-birds-sets-a-flightpath-for-a-re-release/|archive-date=2024-10-10|url-status=live}}</ref> This version was a paid title and removed third party advertisements from the game. In 2023, the game was delisted from the Google Play store and renamed to "Red's First Flight" on the Apple App Store due to "the game's impact on [its] wider games portfolio."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/rovio-says-classic-angry-birds-was-delisted-due-to-impact-on-search-results|title=Rovio says classic Angry Birds was delisted due to impact on search results|first=Marie|last=Dealessandri|date=2023-03-07|work=Games Industry|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919174300/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/rovio-says-classic-angry-birds-was-delisted-due-to-impact-on-search-results|archive-date=2024-09-19|url-status=live}}</ref> | In 2019, a majority of the Angry Birds games made from 2009-2014 were delisted from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Originally, the delistings were for "testing purposes".<ref>[https://x.com/AngryBirds/status/1156820806460219392 "HI Jordan, we've removed some of our older titles from app stores for testing purposes. Stay tuned!" - @AngryBirds (August 1, 2019)] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174541/https://x.com/AngryBirds/status/1156820806460219392 Archived])</ref> The updated reasoning from Rovio was due to "changing devices and marketplace requirements".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://roviosupport.helpshift.com/hc/en/5-rovio-entertainment/faq/2271-i-can-no-longer-find-my-old-angry-birds-games-in-the-store/|title=I can no longer find my old Angry Birds games in the Store.|date=2024-01-02|work=Rovio Entertainment Support|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241008124843/https://roviosupport.helpshift.com/hc/en/5-rovio-entertainment/faq/2271-i-can-no-longer-find-my-old-angry-birds-games-in-the-store/|archive-date=2024-10-08|url-status=live}}</ref> This unexpected delisting caused fans of the series to utilize the "#BringBack2012" hashtag on social media sites such as [[Facebook]] and [[Twitter]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brockpress.com/rovio-the-company-behind-angry-birds-is-entirely-responsible-for-its-own-downfall/|title=Rovio, the company behind Angry Birds, is entirely responsible for its own downfall|first=Christian|last=Roethling|date=2024-02-14|work=Brockpress|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927124322/https://brockpress.com/rovio-the-company-behind-angry-birds-is-entirely-responsible-for-its-own-downfall/|archive-date=2024-09-27|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2021, a remake of the original ''Angry Birds'' game titled "''Rovio Classics: Angry Birds''" was in the works.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rovio.com/articles/bringing-back-2012-angry-birds-sets-a-flightpath-for-a-re-release/|title=Bringing Back 2012 – Dev Diary 1: Angry Birds sets a flightpath for a re release|date=2021-11-23|work=Rovio|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241010145252/https://www.rovio.com/articles/bringing-back-2012-angry-birds-sets-a-flightpath-for-a-re-release/|archive-date=2024-10-10|url-status=live}}</ref> This version was a paid title and removed third party advertisements from the game. In 2023, the game was delisted from the Google Play store and renamed to "Red's First Flight" on the Apple App Store due to "the game's impact on [its] wider games portfolio."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/rovio-says-classic-angry-birds-was-delisted-due-to-impact-on-search-results|title=Rovio says classic Angry Birds was delisted due to impact on search results|first=Marie|last=Dealessandri|date=2023-03-07|work=Games Industry|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919174300/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/rovio-says-classic-angry-birds-was-delisted-due-to-impact-on-search-results|archive-date=2024-09-19|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
These actions and justifications are further put into question as 2-3 years into the sale of ''Angry Birds Trilogy'', the publisher Activision pulled the sale of the game and downloadable content (DLC) from other platforms, specifically Xbox 360/One and the Sony PlayStation 3/4 due to licensing issues with Rovio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forum.psnprofiles.com/topic/47156-dlc-delisted/|title=DLC delisted|date=2017-04-06|work=PSNProfiles|author=The Shopkeeper|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125011235/https://forum.psnprofiles.com/topic/47156-dlc-delisted/|archive-date=2021-01-25|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trueachievements.com/forum/viewthread.aspx?tid=691318|title=DLC Delisted|date=2015-07-20|author=Cursed|work=TrueAchievements|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721040323/https://www.trueachievements.com/forum/viewthread.aspx?tid=691318|archive-date=2021-07-21|url-status=live}}</ref> Another instance was with the ''Angry Birds Space'' PC port on the Steam store, as the game has been delisted for many years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/210550/Angry_Birds_Space/|title=Angry Birds Space on Steam|work=Steam|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425123750/https://store.steampowered.com/app/210550/Angry_Birds_Space/|archive-date=2021-04-25|url-status=live}}</ref> | These actions and justifications are further put into question as 2-3 years into the sale of ''Angry Birds Trilogy'', the publisher Activision pulled the sale of the game and downloadable content (DLC) from other platforms, specifically Xbox 360/One and the Sony PlayStation 3/4 due to licensing issues with Rovio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forum.psnprofiles.com/topic/47156-dlc-delisted/|title=DLC delisted|date=2017-04-06|work=PSNProfiles|author=The Shopkeeper|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125011235/https://forum.psnprofiles.com/topic/47156-dlc-delisted/|archive-date=2021-01-25|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trueachievements.com/forum/viewthread.aspx?tid=691318|title=DLC Delisted|date=2015-07-20|author=Cursed|work=TrueAchievements|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721040323/https://www.trueachievements.com/forum/viewthread.aspx?tid=691318|archive-date=2021-07-21|url-status=live}}</ref> Another instance was with the ''Angry Birds Space'' PC port on the Steam store, as the game has been delisted for many years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/210550/Angry_Birds_Space/|title=Angry Birds Space on Steam|work=Steam|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425123750/https://store.steampowered.com/app/210550/Angry_Birds_Space/|archive-date=2021-04-25|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
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====Result==== | ====Result==== | ||
Depending on the title, these games will either have no capability of receiving new installs, specifically only seen with the mobile releases, or merely being incapable of being newly purchased, such as the console and PC ports. Consumers who have previously bought or installed the games are still able to re-download their games. Consumers who have re-downloaded or installed these games before delisting and never uninstalled them should continue to retain access to their games. However, it is plausible and historically has happened for certain delisted titles to become permanently incapable of being run. Releases such as ''Angry Birds GO!'' depend on access to a server just to run matches and access crucial assets to launch the game<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/angrybirds/comments/nk8u3d/angry_birds_go_version_190_through_1139_doesnt/|title=Angry Birds Go version 1.9.0 through 1.13.9 doesn't work, because it has to download game files, but the servers are probably down. Is there a way to download those files manually?|author=u/[deleted]|date=2021-05-24|work=Reddit|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https:// | Depending on the title, these games will either have no capability of receiving new installs, specifically only seen with the mobile releases, or merely being incapable of being newly purchased, such as the console and PC ports. Consumers who have previously bought or installed the games are still able to re-download their games. Consumers who have re-downloaded or installed these games before delisting and never uninstalled them should continue to retain access to their games. However, it is plausible and historically has happened for certain delisted titles to become permanently incapable of being run. Releases such as ''Angry Birds GO!'' depend on access to a server just to run matches and access crucial assets to launch the game<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/angrybirds/comments/nk8u3d/angry_birds_go_version_190_through_1139_doesnt/|title=Angry Birds Go version 1.9.0 through 1.13.9 doesn't work, because it has to download game files, but the servers are probably down. Is there a way to download those files manually?|author=u/[deleted]|date=2021-05-24|work=Reddit|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210524212522/https://old.reddit.com/r/angrybirds/comments/nk8u3d/angry_birds_go_version_190_through_1139_doesnt/|archive-date=24 May 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>. Some titles such as ''Angry Birds Epic'' store and access their score assets exclusively in Rovio's servers<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/angrybirds/comments/132umy1/ok_seriously_we_need_someone_to_make_a_private/|title=Ok seriously, we need someone to make a private server for Angry Birds Epic.|date=2023-04-29|author=u/SergejPS|work=Reddit|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230511161631/https://old.reddit.com/r/angrybirds/comments/132umy1/ok_seriously_we_need_someone_to_make_a_private/|archive-date=11 May 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>. Rovio keeps Angry Birds Epic's servers alive to this day, even though the game has been delisted for years by now, but in an event of the servers shutting down it would leave Angry Birds Epic in a state incapable of being run ever again. | ||
Additionally, older installs may also just stop functioning, since operating system updates can remove programming libraries that games depend on, so for example, a consumer may not be capable of transferring their install of ''Angry Birds Rio'' from their device running Android 3 to one running Android 10 or later. PC ports are also not immune to this problem either since Windows 11's compatibility features are diminishing,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://splicedonline.com/why-old-pc-games-not-working-on-windows-11/|title=Why old PC games not working on Windows 11?|author=SplicedOnline Team|date=2024-10-30|work=Spliced Online|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://archive.ph/r0S1Y|archive-date=2025-04-07|url-status=live}}</ref> so access may soon only be accessible to tech-savvy consumers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/zneuok/windows_11_update_has_caused_older_games_to_be/|title=Windows 11 update has caused older games to be unplayable. Any ideas?|author=u/eunderscore|date=2022-12-16|work=Reddit|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https:// | Additionally, older installs may also just stop functioning, since operating system updates can remove programming libraries that games depend on, so for example, a consumer may not be capable of transferring their install of ''Angry Birds Rio'' from their device running Android 3 to one running Android 10 or later. PC ports are also not immune to this problem either since Windows 11's compatibility features are diminishing,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://splicedonline.com/why-old-pc-games-not-working-on-windows-11/|title=Why old PC games not working on Windows 11?|author=SplicedOnline Team|date=2024-10-30|work=Spliced Online|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://archive.ph/r0S1Y|archive-date=2025-04-07|url-status=live}}</ref> so access may soon only be accessible to tech-savvy consumers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/zneuok/windows_11_update_has_caused_older_games_to_be/|title=Windows 11 update has caused older games to be unplayable. Any ideas?|author=u/eunderscore|date=2022-12-16|work=Reddit|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221216210247/https://old.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/zneuok/windows_11_update_has_caused_older_games_to_be/|archive-date=16 Dec 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
====Implications==== | ====Implications==== | ||
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===Forced arbitration (2025)=== | ===Forced arbitration (2025)=== | ||
[[File:Rovio AB2 Arbitration.PNG|thumb|right]] | [[File:Rovio AB2 Arbitration.PNG|thumb|right]] | ||
On February 5, 2025, players of the game ''Angry Birds 2'' were treated with a popup message mentioning the changes made to the terms of service that would "resolve disputes in arbitration".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/ChickenLover_YT/status/1887352965461119116|title=Forced arbitration, in my Angry Birds??|author=@ChickenLover_YT|work=X|access-date=2025-02-06|archive-url= | On February 5, 2025, players of the game ''Angry Birds 2'' were treated with a popup message mentioning the changes made to the terms of service that would "resolve disputes in arbitration".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/ChickenLover_YT/status/1887352965461119116|title=Forced arbitration, in my Angry Birds??|author=@ChickenLover_YT|work=X|access-date=2025-02-06|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708174533/https://x.com/ChickenLover_YT/status/1887352965461119116|archive-date=8 Jul 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> Users were only met with two options: agree to the updated terms or view the changed terms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cloud.rovio.com/privacyweb/index.html?locale=en|title=Terms of Service and Privacy Notice|work=Rovio|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202184605/https://cloud.rovio.com/privacyweb/index.html?locale=en|archive-date=2022-12-02|url-status=live}}</ref> This is known as [[forced arbitration]] and is made so affected users cannot join class action lawsuits, but rather settle in arbitration court where a third party determines the outcome rather than a jury. This is proven with the new line, "THIS AGREEMENT MEANS THAT YOU AND ROVIO AGREE TO NOT HAVE SUCH CLAIMS RESOLVED IN A TRIAL BY A JUDGE OR JURY."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rovio.com/terms-of-service/|title=Terms of Service|date=2025-02-04|work=Rovio|access-date=2025-04-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250328095932/https://www.rovio.com/terms-of-service/|archive-date=2025-03-28|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
==Products== | ==Products== | ||