Supercell ft Ilkka Paananen: How an Early Pivot Shaped Hits Like Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars
Ilkka Paananen, Founder and CEO of Supercell, aimed to build a unique game company where development teams held decision-making power instead of top management. Early on, Ilkka made the crucial choice to abandon their first game and shift focus exclusively to mobile gaming.
This bold move sparked one of the gaming industry’s greatest success stories. By emphasizing quality and viewing failures as opportunities to learn, Supercell created enduring hits and set new standards for mobile games.
Reinventing Supercell During Challenges
Ilkka explains how Supercell reinvented itself again after experiencing a slowdown, turning challenges into growth. The company’s journey demonstrates how radical organizational innovation and a readiness to kill off projects can foster long-lasting, popular products.
Giving Creative Control to Small Teams
Supercell’s strategy inverted the traditional corporate hierarchy by empowering small, independent teams with creative control, resulting in one of the most valuable gaming companies ever.
From Facebook Games to Mobile Only
Supercell pivoted away from Facebook games to focus solely on mobile development, a risky but ultimately rewarding move.
The Philosophy of Failing Smart
- Supercell shut down Gunshine shortly after raising Series A funding, despite initial promise.
- They stopped further development of Orcs after its first mobile soft launch.
- In 2024, Squad Busters was halted even after earning $100 million.
“The key isn’t just failing fast—it’s ‘failing smart’ by extracting every lesson and celebrating what you learned.”
Failing smart, rather than simply quickly, has been central to Supercell’s ability to thrive and innovate continuously.
Looking Ahead
Ilkka also shares insights into Supercell’s future direction, emphasizing their commitment to quality and adaptability as they continue to shape mobile gaming.
“Supercell created enduring hits and defined a new standard for mobile gaming.”
Author’s summary: Supercell’s success stems from empowering small teams, smartly learning from failures, and boldly pivoting to focus on mobile, setting a new benchmark in gaming.