This was published 8 years ago
Sugar high: botched update gives Candy Crush a speed kick
By Hannah Francis
Speed, LSD, steroids or "nose candy": addicts of the Candy Crush game were left wondering what gear app maker King Digital had invented this week after a botched iOS update boosted gameplay in the popular smartphone app to warp speed.
Brightly coloured fish wriggled across the screen at dizzying speed, while candy bombs flashed like strobe lights.
Sugar rush: the latest iOS update of Candy Crush Saga introduced a bug which caused gameplay to run at double speed for some users.
Some users reported the countdown clock on timed levels, where the player must complete the level before it reaches zero, had halved - making it nigh on impossible to beat the clock.
"I am on level 462 in which I got 40 seconds to solve it," one player, Regina, posted on the game's official community page.
"Since the update I only have 20 seconds. Thank you very much for this terrible update and for losing everything I saved:-(."
The bug began affecting iPhone and iPad users after they downloaded the game's latest software update 1.51.2, released on Monday. The update adds 15 new levels in a new episode of Candy Crush Saga, taking the epic game to 905 levels.
A King Digital spokesperson, responding to frustrated fans on the game's official community web forum, said the problem was specifically affecting users whose mobile device batteries were running below 30 per cent.
Sure enough, when we tested it out this morning on an iPhone that was low on juice, the super-speed hijinks were in full swing (see YouTube video below). Once above 30 per cent battery power, however, gameplay returned to normal speed.
Video: Craig Butt
"Current workaround is to charge the mobile device," Mark Hawk, a moderator on the game's official community page, advised.
Mr Hawk said a new software update that made the game work properly with low batteries was on the way "shortly".
Hundreds continued to express bemusement at the bug via Twitter, as well as on the official Candy Crush Saga community page and even on the game's Apple App store page.
For most, the update was amusing, if not so sweet.
But for a select few, life in the fast lane was just what the doctor ordered.
"This speed is dope *__* dont fix this," Ivana Bar posted in the community forum.
The situation led some to suggest King Digital add a custom option so players can choose how fast the gameplay is.
"I like when it's going very fast!," Kareem Ghazal posted on the forum.
"It speeds up play significantly which is crucial if you're a serial player!! Please make it permanent or at least an on/off option!!"
User Jared K also said he loved how fast the bug had made the game.
"Normally this game is slower than death," he wrote on the forum.
"This is the speed it should run all the time! Please make it an option!!!"
Are you enjoying the revved up Candy Crush? Fancy a speed dial for custom playing? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.