Adobe drops mobile Flash support

Adobe has rung the first death knell over once-ubiquitous web standard Adobe Flash.

Gamasutra reports Adobe will continue to issue critical bug fixes and security updates for existing mobile Flash versions, but will no longer release new versions for upcoming mobile devices, browsers and operating systems.

The company will use resources once devoted to Flash mobile to up its stake in HTML 5, one of the most popular flash alternatives. Development will continue on Flash for PC.

Flash, originally developed by Macromedia, is a widely-used format for animation content, including the vast majority of browser-based games.

The tech has been widely criticised for its security issues and closed development environment, and Apple's decision to refuse Flash support in iOS devices has seen a dramatic increase in interest in alternatives like Microsoft's Silverlight.