Ilkka Paananen, CEO of mobile gaming giant Supercell, has urged the industry to embrace greater risk-taking to overcome stagnation and rising development costs. In a recent interview with the BBC, Paananen warned against relying on past successes, stating that repetition is “the kiss of death” for game studios1. His comments come as Supercell faces pressure to replicate the decade-long dominance of titles like Clash of Clans while navigating a market where 60% of mobile playtime goes to games over six years old3.
Escalating Costs and Market Saturation
The mobile gaming sector now faces development budgets rivaling console and PC titles, with Paananen noting that “single-digit-million-dollar budgets are over”2. Supercell’s 2025 revenue data reveals this challenge: while established games like Brawl Stars generated $205.59 million year-to-date, their newest title Mo.Co earned just $2.99 million4. Even Squad Busters, which grossed $100 million in seven months, fell short of internal expectations5.
AI as a Catalyst for Reinvention
Supercell is betting on AI-driven innovation through labs in Helsinki and San Francisco. Paananen suggests these efforts may yield “entirely new experiences” beyond traditional game formats2. The company aims to create games with Nintendo-like longevity, though community reactions remain mixed. A Reddit thread on r/ClashOfClans expressed skepticism about Supercell’s ability to innovate beyond its flagship titles6.
Industry-Wide Implications
Paananen’s warning reflects broader mobile gaming trends. With only 10% of playtime going to new releases in 20243, studios face mounting pressure to justify ballooning budgets. LinkedIn discussions among analysts highlight how Supercell’s risk-taking approach could set precedents for mid-sized developers7. The company’s AI experiments and willingness to sunset underperforming games (Squad Busters will reportedly shut down in Q3 2025) demonstrate this philosophy in action.
As development cycles lengthen and player expectations rise, Paananen’s call for reinvention underscores a pivotal moment for mobile gaming. Whether through AI or unconventional design, the path forward appears to demand greater risks for diminishing returns—a challenge Supercell and its peers must now confront.
References
- “Supercell boss: ‘We need to take bigger risks’,” BBC News, Jun. 24, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqx2jz1l477o
- “Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen on AI labs, rising costs, and why mobile games need reinvention,” PocketGamer.biz, Jun. 25, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.pocketgamer.biz/supercell-ceo-ilkka-paananen-on-ai-labs-rising-costs-and-why-mobile-games-need-reinvention
- “Can Supercell make another Clash of Clans? CEO says future depends on risk,” IBTimes UK, Jun. 24, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/can-supercell-make-another-clash-clans-ceo-says-future-depends-risk-reinvention-1736533
- “Supercell’s top-grossing mobile games 2025,” Statista, Jul. 16, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1221278/supercell-top-grossing-mobile-games
- “Supercell’s Squad Busters: $100M in 7 months but still a disappointment,” GameFile News, Jul. 10, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.gamefile.news/p/supercell-ilkka-paananen-brawl-stars-moco-squad-busters
- “Supercell boss: We need to take bigger risks,” Reddit, Jul. 22, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.reddit.com/r/ClashOfClans/comments/1m6t6av/supercell_boss_we_need_to_take_bigger_risks
- “Supercell CEO’s risk-taking call sparks industry discussion,” LinkedIn, Jul. 9, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gdeseries_supercell-boss-we-need-to-take-bigger-risks-activity-7348800373362446339-OZ6V
