Angry Birds 2 to Release This Month
Rovio Games has revealed that Angry Birds 2 will release on July 30. The official sequel to the original Angry Birds game will be first shown at a special event on July 28 and then released across various platforms two days later. Although the developer has not stated exactly what devices will be supported, it is likely that the game will be available on iOS and Android devices at launch. The company has also not revealed very much information about the game, describing it only as, “bigger, badder and birdier.”
After the explosion in popularity of the original Angry Birds, Rovio expanded the franchise significantly. This included follow-on games such as Angry Birds Seasons, Angry Birds Rio and Angry Birds Rio. Later, the development team also began to create titles in conjunction with other licensed properties, with games such as Angry Birds Star Wars and Angry Birds Transformers. Over time, the various games have also led to spin-offs, like Bad Piggies, or main games that feature new gameplay elements or changes to the formula.
The success has led to the games being ported to platforms other than smartphones, with titles even appearing on home consoles such as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Rovio also exploited the popularity of the series by creating theme parks, merchandise, toys, a television show and even food products. Next year, a film based on the game will release that has been written by Jon Vitti and will star Peter Dinklage and Bill Hader.
It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Rovio though. Despite the huge amount of money that Angry Birds brought in, the company has seen its profits drop significantly in recent times. In 2014, profits halved and the company was forced to lay off some 110 employees in an attempt to reduce costs and secure their finances for the future. The announcement of an official sequel rather than simply another spin-off may be a way to try to bring back players who grew disinterested in the series and build up hype for the upcoming movie.