Tools

Search

Explore

Videos Channels Figures

Atmrix

About

Tools

Search

Explore

Videos Channels Figures

Atmrix

About

IP

Ilkka Paananen

04/03/25

@ a16z speedrun

The failure of a Facebook game led Supercell to rethink their approach, ultimately resulting in the creation of Clash of Clans.

Video

as

CEO of Supercell on the Harsh Truth About Game Development

@ a16z speedrun

CEO of Supercell on the Harsh Truth About Game Development

04/03/25

Related Takeaways

IP

Ilkka Paananen

04/03/25

@ a16z speedrun

Supercell's approach to innovation involves disrupting themselves to stay ahead of competitors, ensuring they continue to create unique gaming experiences.

IP

Ilkka Paananen

04/03/25

@ a16z speedrun

Our pivot from web games to mobile was a critical decision, driven by the realization that our first Facebook game was a failure, which ultimately guided our direction.

IP

Ilkka Paananen

04/03/25

@ a16z speedrun

Supercell has a reputation for killing around 90% of the games they develop, which is a strategic choice to maintain high product quality.

IP

Ilkka Paananen

04/03/25

@ a16z speedrun

Supercell aims to create games that are remembered for years, contrasting with the trend of casual games being seen as short-lived 'snack entertainment'.

IP

Ilkka Paananen

04/03/25

@ a16z speedrun

I built a culture at Supercell where only the best ideas survive, leading to the early termination of most projects to focus on true breakthroughs.

IP

Ilkka Paananen

04/03/25

@ a16z speedrun

The fundamental belief at Supercell is that the team working on a game fully owns and controls what they do, free from external interference.

JC

Julien Codorniou

06/24/25

@ Stripe

Having the freedom to experiment and fail is crucial for employee morale and innovation, as demonstrated by my experience launching a failed gaming project on Facebook.

IP

Ilkka Paananen

04/03/25

@ a16z speedrun

We aim high at Supercell, often shooting for the moon, knowing that we will likely fail most of the time, but that's part of our core philosophy.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

09/18/18

@ Y Combinator

We had to instruct our team that any new game should not launch on Facebook, as we needed to find revenue sources elsewhere.