Supercell's Squad Busters Set to Launch in China After Generating $100 Million Globally

Squad Busters, a mobile game from Finnish developer Supercell, is preparing to enter the Chinese market with its recent appearance on China's App Store.

The game was approved by the Chinese game approval authority -- NPPA last October along with 127 other titles, including Goddess of Victory: New Hope.

Tencent, which owns Supercell, will handle publishing responsibilities in China.

The App Store page indicates that Squad Busters will launch on iOS devices on April 22nd, 2025.

The game has already proven successful in international markets, generating more than $100 million in revenue across the App Store and Google Play since its global release as per Appmagic data.

Supercell supported the worldwide launch with a major marketing campaign featuring celebrities Chris Hemsworth, Christina Ricci, and Auliʻi Cravalho.

Despite reaching the $100 million milestone, Squad Busters hasn't matched the extraordinary performance of Supercell's previous hits. The company's other major titles, including Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, each surpassed $1 billion in lifetime revenue.

Even Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen admitted the team isn't fully satisfied with the performance. He revealed plans for some “fundamental changes” to sharpen the gameplay and boost its long-term appeal.

Paananen also got real about the current state of the industry, noting it’s "very hard to break through with a new game" these days — so much so that some companies are just buying up hits instead of building their own.

For those out of the loop, Squad Busters blends elements of battle royale, strategy, and MOBA-style gameplay. Players form squads of characters from Supercell’s iconic games (Clash of Clans, Brawl Stars, Hay Day, Clash Royale, and Boom Beach) to compete in 10-player matches lasting around 4-5 minutes. Goal? Collect gems by defeating monsters, opening chests, and outlasting opponents. The player or team with the most gems at the end wins.

The game leverages Supercell’s fanbase by uniting characters from its universe, creating a nostalgic yet fresh experience. It features over 25 characters at launch, like Barbarian, Shelly, and Hog Rider, each with distinct abilities. Players unlock skins and variants as they progress.

The upcoming Chinese launch represents an important expansion opportunity for Squad Busters, potentially providing access to one of the world's largest mobile gaming markets.