Pebble’s Revival at Risk: How the Rift Between Core and Rebble Could Stall the 2025 Comeback

The buzz around Pebble's comeback in 2025 has tech enthusiasts and fans of the iconic smartwatch eagerly anticipating a new chapter in wearable technology. With new devices like the Pebble 2 Duo and Pebble Time 2 poised to hit the market, the future seemed bright. However, beneath the excitement, a growing dispute between Core Devices—the company led by Pebble's original founder Eric Migicovsky—and the Rebble community threatens to overshadow this revival. At the heart of the conflict lies a complex disagreement over control and access to the Pebble app ecosystem's invaluable data, which has sustained the watch's ecosystem after its initial discontinuation.

Tracing Pebble’s Legacy and Revival

Pebble was a pioneer of smartwatch technology in its heyday, earning a dedicated fanbase and a thriving developer community. The Pebble community and Rebble, a fan-driven initiative, had kept the spirit and functionality of Pebble alive long after its official support ended. In 2025, after Eric Migicovsky reacquired the rights to the Pebble name and successfully convinced Google to open-source PebbleOS, the stage was set for an official reboot. The new Pebble watches promised not just spiritual successors, but fully realized next-gen products that tapped into the nostalgia and innovation that defined Pebble.

The Data Dispute: Core vs. Rebble

Despite the shared goal of keeping Pebble’s ecosystem alive, Core and Rebble have clashed over the control and transparency of the app store data. Rebble claims the data behind the Pebble App Store—the backbone of the entire platform—is entirely their work, accumulated over nearly a decade. Core devices, led by Eric, is seeking access to this data to power the new Pebble watches. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for Core to copy and appropriate Rebble’s infrastructure and content without adequate safeguards, risking Rebble being cut out and undermining the community effort.

• Rebble’s perspective: They want assurances and a formal agreement to protect their long-term investment and community contributions from being exploited or sidelined.
• Core’s stance: Eric Migicovsky expresses mistrust and frustration, feeling accused unfairly and hesitant to rely solely on verbal commitments without concrete legal protection.

Community Reactions and Concerns

Online conversations reflect a divided community grappling with the stakes of this conflict. Fans emphasize the need for transparency, proposing open-source solutions for the Pebble app ecosystem to ensure longevity and community control. They worry about the new Pebble app potentially becoming a closed system that could disappear or become unsupported over time, forcing users into inconvenient workarounds.

"I really don’t want to have to sideload the new app 10 years from now the same way I’m sideloading the old Pebble app now." — WaluigisRevenge2018, Reddit, November 2025

"Rebble has existed longer than Pebble did at this point. Their intentions to keep the app store alive seem genuine." — gnzl, Reddit, November 2025

The Human Side: Passion, Pride, and Pride of Ownership

Understandably, Eric's reaction demonstrates how deeply personal this project is to him. Pebble is not only a business but also his creation and labor of love. His care and protectiveness over the brand run deep, coloring the negotiations with emotion. On the other side stands a dedicated group of community contributors and Rebble developers who want to preserve what they’ve built and ensure the ecosystem remains accessible and functional for the long haul.

Finding Common Ground for the Future

In many ways, everyone involved shares a common vision: to see Pebble thrive well into the future. The community, Rebble, Core Devices, and the fans all want more than just devices; they want a sustainable, vibrant ecosystem that respects and builds upon the legacy that made Pebble special. The hope is that through proper communication, clear agreements, and mutual respect, a partnership—or at least a truce—can be reached that benefits both sides and, most importantly, the end users.

• The fans brought Pebble to life and gave it a passionate following.
• The community and Rebble provided essential support through years of uncertainty.
• Eric’s vision and dedication made the product possible from the start.
• Cooperation now is critical for a successful future.

As Pebble’s 14th anniversary approaches, this moment is critical. Will the legacy of one of the most beloved smartwatches be defined by reconciliation and collaboration or by divisiveness and distrust? For Pebble’s comeback to truly succeed, the answer matters deeply—to everyone who still believes in a simple idea: technology should be sustainable, accessible, and fun.

Let’s hope the coming months bring progress toward a solution, so the headlines can once again be filled with excitement for new Pebble devices and innovations instead of ongoing disputes.