'Joe Danger' crashing back into App Store after appeal from parent of autistic child

The creators of 'Joe Danger' have relaunched the game on the App Store, making it again playable on the latest iOS — because an autistic boy's parent asked them to.

As of 2017, older 32-bit games ceased working in the then-current iOS 11. It was because of the move to 64-bit apps, and Apple had been warning developers since 2014.

One such app was "Joe Danger," a successful racing game that began life on the PlayStation. Now its developer has brought it back to the App Store. "remastered with improved visuals, high frame rate, ProMotion and Gamepad support."

The developer, Hello Games, revealed on Twitter that the company's "secret shame" was that it had let "Joe Danger" lapse while concentrating on its blockbuster "No Man's Sky." But then the company got a letter that "broke our hearts."

A secret shame of ours is that the success of No Man's Sky left our first game Joe Danger unloved. Sadly since iOS culled older games it no longer worked on latest Apple devices

This mail broke our hearts and made us want to set things right pic.twitter.com/Oz2yTjMUK5
— Sean Murray (@NoMansSky) January 27, 2022

The full letter from a parent of 8-year-old Jack, who has autism, says that "Joe Danger" has allowed him "to interact and have fun with friends and family alike." It has "allowed Jack to experience 'normal kid stuff'."

Jack's parent says that losing it in an iOS update, and not having a new version, is a problem.

"As children with autism have difficulty with change, any other version just won't do," continues the letter. "The App Store, rather casually I must admit, suggests 'contacting the developer' to update the app to get it to work, as if that were something that was done every day."

"But Jack asked me to do it for him, so here I am."

Jack's parent, whose name has not been revealed, recognized in the letter that it may not be possible for the developer to bring it back. "But it would mean the world to at least one little boy," concludes the letter.

The newly revamped "Joe Danger" is $1.99 on the App Store.

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13 Comments

GeorgeBMac 11421 comments · 8 Years

About 2 years ago

This is good.

But I wonder how people like Greta Thunberg, Bill Gates and Elon Musk feel about being lumped in with generalizations like: "[People] with autism have have difficulty with change" (or whatever stereotype about autism you want to name).

None of those autistic people have trouble with change. In fact, they have changed or are changing the whole F-n world.

igforbes 18 comments · 4 Years

I would think one would realize there are levels of autism and each has its own challenges. So, to answer your question, I don’t think they’d mind. I suppose you could ask them?

I bought the app just to support this company. Seems they may have a heart.

Beats 3073 comments · 4 Years

GeorgeBMac said:

This is good.
But I wonder how people like Greta Thunberg, Bill Gates and Elon Musk feel about being lumped in with generalizations like: "[People] with autism have have difficulty with change" (or whatever stereotype about autism you want to name).

None of those autistic people have trouble with change. In fact, they have changed or are changing the whole F-n world.

When you say “they” I’m sure you mean Greta and Elon. Bill hasn’t changed the world. He built his empire stealing from Apple. Every idea Microsoft makes gets quickly discontinued like those Fitbit things and that computer knob. Oh you just mean his donations that he started contributing out of guilt. Those count I’d say.

I don’t understand why developers abandon apps after a change like 64-bit. It’s disrespectful to the customer. The article even mentions it was a successful app. It shouldn’t have taken a “heart breaking” fan letter.

chadbag 2026 comments · 13 Years

Beats said:

I don’t understand why developers abandon apps after a change like 64-bit. It’s disrespectful to the customer. The article even mentions it was a successful app. It shouldn’t have taken a “heart breaking” fan letter.

It says they were busy with their next hit. Not every developer has the resources to fully maintain "old" stuff while working on the latest and greatest.

I fully empathize with your statement but reality sometimes steps in.