Finnish Mobile Gaming: Supercell, Rovio and New Hits — 2026-09-02
Supercell is finalizing its acquisition of Merge Mansion developer Metacore this month, while Sega-owned Rovio shuts down its Copenhagen studio following the cancellation of *Sonic Blitz*. Meanwhile, a high-profile departure from Supercell London signals a shift toward AI-driven indie development among veteran Finnish talent.
Finnish Mobile Gaming: Supercell, Rovio and New Hits — 2026-09-02
Top developments
Supercell closes in on Metacore acquisition
Supercell’s acquisition of Metacore, the Helsinki-based developer behind Merge Mansion, is expected to close at the end of September 2026. The deal brings Metacore’s casual puzzle portfolio into Supercell’s live games ecosystem, although financial terms remain undisclosed. This move follows significant restructuring at Metacore, including approximately 160 staff cuts and the closure of offices in Sweden and Germany earlier in the year.
Rovio shuts down Copenhagen studio
Sega-owned Rovio has announced the closure of its Copenhagen studio, a decision directly linked to the cancellation of the Sonic Blitz project. The exact number of redundancies has not yet been confirmed, but the move marks another contraction in Rovio’s international footprint as it consolidates under Sega’s free-to-play strategy. This follows previous write-downs and rebuilds within Sega’s gaming segment, where Rovio’s revenue has held steady but spending remains high.
Supercell London GM leaves for AI-focused startup
Lasse Seppänen, the General Manager of Supercell London, has left the company after 7.5 years to launch his own game studio in the UK, scheduled for 2027. Seppänen cited the rapid maturation of AI tools as a key driver for his timing, noting the new opportunities these technologies open up for smaller, agile teams. His departure highlights a trend of senior talent leaving major Finnish publishers to leverage AI for indie innovation.
Local view
Finnish media outlets are highlighting the resilience of the domestic indie scene despite global industry volatility. Tilt.fi reports on the launch of CQ: Calling Any Station, a solo-developed game by Joni “Arkkis” Nieminen, positioning it as a potential autumn indie hit. The game, published on Steam on August 26, 2026, exemplifies the "lonely developer" trend gaining traction in Finland’s creative sector.
Additionally, Yle has covered the broader context of Finnish game funding, noting that while large studios like Supercell and Rovio remain dominant, there is ongoing debate about whether state support via Business Finland is adequately reaching smaller startups.
Context & numbers
The Finnish game industry continues to be a cornerstone of the national economy, with recent data indicating a turnover of €2.85 billion across 270 active studios. Despite global market fluctuations, the sector employs approximately 4,300 people directly. Supercell alone contributed €220 million to the Finnish economy in its most recent reporting period, underscoring the critical role of major publishers in sustaining the local ecosystem.
On the radar
- PG Connects Nordics (Oct 20–21, 2026): Formerly known as PGC Helsinki, this event will host over 1,500 delegates in Helsinki. Key tracks include the AI Gamechangers Summit and Beyond Games: Transmedia Summit, reflecting the industry's pivot toward AI integration and cross-media storytelling.
- Slush Preparation: With Slush approaching later in the year, Finnish mobile gaming startups are expected to highlight AI-driven development tools and hybrid-casual monetization strategies to attract international investors.
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