Mobile game developer Supercell has become one of the brilliant advancements in Europe’s startup community. Based in Helsinki, this mobile game developer triumphed out of Clash of Clans. This not only raised its revenues but also attracts the attention of top-class traders. Finally, being a powerful tactical majority shareholder, Tencent, has a value of $10.2 billion.
We spoke to Ilkka Paananen, the company’s owner and CEO, about the obstacles and possibilities the company is facing and inquired some tips and guidance on setting up and running companies smoothly in Europe at this time.
According to Paananen, things are surely not great right now. Everyone is going through a worldwide health pandemic outbreak, and the markets are shaking as a consequence. Fascinating sea shift is taking place as gaming giants (along with many other entertainment makers) battle off against major tech, where the debate is whether the games or apps have the whipped edge.
Particularly for Supercell, its major shareholder Tencent is in deep trouble in the US. It’s resting on a newly popular and modern gaming brand that you might say is in the center of his own Battle Royale against many other key games. They are now fighting for people’s interest and purchasing resources to continue gaming and leveling. In particular, the ten-year-old business itself may face more grave concerns about where they are currently and what’s next to come?
On the other hand, Paananen has been in the business for many years, even without Supercell’s knowledge so far. Supercell is Paananen’s second major hit corporation. Also, he established Sumea, which was purchased by Digital Chocolate, where he was president of the now-deceased Big Studio. Paananen is and has been an investor throughout his business career. Also, Paananen supported Zwift, who’s the play-field home fitness developer, in the most successful $450 million investment, which involved forming the company’s board members. That is all to suggest that he can perceive a broader vision.
He further said: Tencent’s problems in the US are what the business is monitoring. But they remain not just unsettled — in reality, only this week, irrespective of any possible restrictions on Tencent assets and WeChat in general, the US government has given more clarity on how citizens are accountable by using WeChat. In any regard, Paananen explained in the interview that he agrees that Supercell would not come under US executive action to be closed down as Tencent is just a partner, not a complete member. He’s still eager to see how this all is going to turn out.
“Our present perception [is that] it’s about WeChat and not just Tencent overall,” he said, “and that doesn’t extend to Tencent-funded firms like Supercell.” (Also, it appears one of the positive things to have come out of not being completely acquired.)
Similarly, Paananen is not particularly worried about the reality that its major hit. Though still one of the world’s top-grossing games, Paananen is growing and slowly drawing in less money.
Considering the reality that Supercell still has to step through with a different profitable franchise and that it has smashed quite a few tries in the interim, the concept of making a hit is, however, as difficult to a business that has already generated a jump as it is to those who have not.
“It would also be great to still be on some growth trajectory, but the fact is … it’s a lot of hit or miss,” he added.
“Sometimes statistics rise, and sometimes they come downwards, so what the scope of your moment is?
“We hardly care for the next half, and also very, very occasionally think about it. So maybe in the coming year, I suppose it’s a goal of its own, you see. Our goal is to create a game for a long time by as numerous users as possible. Businesses like Nintendo influence us. But if that’s all you’re taking … so that affects the outlook.”
The business has been expanding its possibilities, though, with about multiple purchases a year in many game startups and several developers’ total investments, to broaden the company and have more potential for innovative future games. Paananen stated that Supercell has no intentions for anything else in AR or VR further in the Q&A with audiences, with a strong conviction that smartphone and touch screen dynamics are the strongest at creating.
“We are actively searching for individuals from all across the globe to enter Supercell to develop the greatest teams and afterward the finest game modes, of course,” he added.
Ensuring that you have a community that will collaborate, motivate, and be effective has become a continuous one. This will mean even more as the business gets larger as we progress in many decentralized conditions. It appears like the most important concept Paananen has gained is the one that appears to be his highest priority: building the best long-term squad.
