Tapbots teases a new Bluesky app, Phoenix, saying it can’t ‘survive on Mastodon alone’

A new app called Phoenix is in development by Tapbots, the creators of the popular Mastodon client Ivory, for Bluesky’s social network with over 32 million users.

Bluesky teased the upcoming app on its website, set to launch later this summer.

Tapbots clarified that they are not abandoning their work on the fediverse while developing the Bluesky client. Ivory’s development will slow down temporarily during this period.

Ivory, launched in 2023, offers an alternative to Mastodon’s official app with features integrated with ActivityPub, a protocol used by various federated social apps.

Bluesky operates on the AT Protocol, different from Mastodon’s protocol, attracting users who have moved from Twitter to alternative networks like Bluesky and Mastodon.

Tapbots aims to support both networks to continue thriving as a company, leading to the development of a dedicated Bluesky app while maintaining Ivory for Mastodon users.

Phoenix’s development will take priority over Ivory for now, with plans for cross-posting features to connect both social networks.

MacStories first reported the launch of Phoenix, which is expected to follow a subscription model similar to Ivory’s pricing structure.

Phoenix will have a limited public alpha phase before its official launch in summer 2025.