[UPDATE] Dubbed the "Netflix for Torrents," the Popcorn Time app returns with the Hail Hydra update. Following Motion Picture Association of America's (MPAA) legal action, Popcorn Time's original website Popcorntime.io closed indefinitely.
Then again, after just a week, "a bunch of geeks from all around the world" announced that the illegal Netflix is here once more with "Butter" on top. The announcement was made on the Popcorn Time blog last Feb. 24.
"After the 'MPAA incident', we're a little diminished, and we've chosen a new direction: we're shifting from an active development of Popcorn Time to a more or less resilience-driven development," the unidentified app developerswrote on the blog.
They mentioned that some of their former geek colleagues left to work on Popcorn Time's legal version, Butter, which shares the same base code. The team also said they will use Butter's platform as the new Popcorn Time's base.
It appears that we have two sides now.
On one side, there's the new project, Butter, which developers can create without being affected by Popcorn Time's pulled plug last year. On the other side, there's the reincarnated Popcorn Time that will use Butter's platform.
Of course, this reincarnation comes with the hopes that they won't suffer the same ill fate that pulled out the original Popcorn Time off the Internet.
"We'd like to add that we do not accept any donation and have no interest in monetizing Popcorn Time by any way: our philosophy hasn't changed," they wrote.
Apart from the blows MPAA caused, the recent months weren't so good for the developers. The marketplace became littered with Popcorn Time wannabes, clones and even direct copies that lead users into malware and adware traps. In its blog announcement, the team gave a friendly shout out to the Reddit Community for keeping things in check while they were on a hiatus.
We will have to see how resistant this reincarnated Popcorn Time could be. Currently, there seems to be three main Popcorn Time editions, namely PopcornTime.sh, popcorntimece.ch and Popcorn-Time.se. Since no one will step up to be identified, let's point out that only the first one referred to Butter.
And speaking of various forks, the guys at the Popcorn Time Community Edition (PTCE) issued an official statement alleging that the original, original Popcorn Time is being hijacked by the MPAA.
Since the real 'slim shady' won't stand up, we really don't know who's behind which Popcorn Time fork. In the meantime, grab your popcorn; put some butter in it if you like, because free streaming for films is so back.
