A decade has passed since the then-19-year-old Gabriele Cirulli developed the game that would become an overnight hit.
Amsterdam, October 8, 2024: Dubbed the ‘Candy Crush for math geeks,’ 2048 began as a weekend passion project for Gabriele Cirulli in 2014. Now, a decade later, Gabriele unveils a revamped edition featuring exciting new power-ups, a complete redesign, and enhanced animations and graphics for a more captivating gaming experience. Additionally, a special version called ‘2048 Plus’ is available to Amazon Prime subscribers in Prime Gaming-supported countries, offering three unique power-ups alongside the existing ones.
Despite initially developing the game as a hobby project, Gabriele is excited to breathe new life into the puzzle experience that gained over 5 million players in a week. The updated version introduces new gameplay mechanics, including the highly requested 'Undo' feature for correcting mistakes, 'Swap Two Tiles' to maneuver tricky situations, and 'Delete Tiles by Number' to clear specific numbered tiles from the board. These additions provide players—both new and returning—with fresh strategies to aim for the coveted 2048 tile. For those who prefer the original experience, the classic version of 2048 remains available, preserving the challenges that captivated players worldwide
‘After discovering and getting addicted to puzzle games similar to 2048, I was intrigued. However, the aesthetic of the existing versions didn't quite appeal to me, so I decided to make my own version of the game with no intention of profiting from it. You can imagine my surprise when 2048 rose to the top of Hacker News and even more so when the interest not only stayed but grew into a viral phenomenon,’ says Gabriele Cirulli.
A special version of 2048, called '2048 Plus,' will be available exclusively to Amazon Prime members in supported countries. This edition offers three additional power-ups beyond those in the standard version: 'Teleport a Tile,' which lets you move any tile to an empty spot for more merging opportunities; 'Rotate the Outer Ring,' allowing you to shift tiles clockwise or counterclockwise to uncover new patterns; and 'Bomb,' which clears a 3x3 area of tiles, giving you much-needed space when you're stuck.
Owing to its open-source design, 2048 has seen widespread adaptation. From in-flight entertainment systems to car consoles or Easter eggs in apps, the game's presence extends far beyond traditional gaming platforms.
‘These updates demonstrate the lasting impact of Gabriele’s original game and his commitment to improving the player experience,’ says David Palan, CEO of Solebon. ‘We’re excited to partner with Gabriele to bring these updates to the mobile app in the coming months.’
Since October 2023, Gabriele has been working on 2048 full-time, focusing on performance improvements, updated visual design, and new gameplay features. This is just the starting point, with the upcoming 2048 edition marking a new chapter in the game's history and promising an enhanced experience for both new and seasoned players alike.
You can experience 2048 at play2048.co. 2048 Plus, the exclusive Prime Gaming version with additional power-ups, can be accessed here.
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For more information, contact:
Sofia Chiscop - sofia@prlab.co
You can find the press kit here.
About Gabriele Cirulli & 2048
Gabriele Cirulli is the creator of 2048, the puzzle experience that gained over 5 million players in a week. In 2014, Gabriele's weekend passion project captured global attention, garnering millions of players. Originally published as open-source software on GitHub, 2048 rapidly evolved into a cultural icon, finding its way into in-flight entertainment systems, car consoles, and various apps. In 2023, Gabriele, an experienced web developer and designer, decided to dedicate himself fully to 2048’s ongoing development, ensuring its continued growth and evolution.