Observed Signal · Jul 2, 2026 · Departure · Source: PocketGamer.biz · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Supercell investment chief Jaakko Harlas departs
Jaakko Harlas, head of Supercell Investments, has left Supercell after more than 12 years. In a post marking his final day he said he is stepping down to spend more time with his family and currently has no plans to join another company. During his tenure Harlas led Supercell’s investment activity, which has funded and acquired a range of studios and startups (including Applivery, Appcharge, Bitmagic, Future Run, Metacore, Space Ape and Trailmix). His exit comes amid broader changes at Supercell, including its May plan to fully acquire Metacore and subsequent layoffs and office closures at Metacore.
A senior investments leader leaving a major mobile games developer is notable within games and investment circles and may affect Supercell's deal activity, but it is not industry‑shifting for the broader AdTech/MarTech ecosystem.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Jaakko Harlas left Supercell after more than 12 years as head of investments.
- Harlas announced he is leaving to spend more time with his family and has no current plans to join another company.
- Supercell Investments has deployed hundreds of millions of dollars into studios and startups, including Applivery, Appcharge, Bitmagic, Future Run, Metacore, Space Ape and Trailmix.
- Harlas' departure follows a period of change at Supercell, including the company's May plan to fully acquire the remainder of Metacore and Metacore's later confirmation of 159 layoffs and office closures in Germany and Sweden.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mapped“Supercell head of investments Jaakko Harlas is leaving the company after more than 12 years at the Clash Royale developer....”
“The Finnish developer has invested in the likes of Applivery, Appcharge, Bitmagic, Future Run, Metacore, Space Ape, Trailmix and more over t...”
“Article and reporting published on PocketGamer.biz covering Jaakko Harlas' departure and Supercell investment activity....”
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Supercell to Finalise Metacore Acquisition This Month
Supercell has officially signed an agreement to acquire Metacore, the Finnish developer of Merge Mansion, with the deal expected to finalise by the end of September 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed. As part of the integration, Metacore closed its offices in Germany and Sweden and laid off 159 staff at its Helsinki headquarters. Supercell president Sara Bach expressed confidence in Merge Mansion's long-term potential, while Metacore CEO Mika Tammenkoski emphasised player experience as a priority. Merge Mansion has generated approximately $7.7 million in the last 30 days and around $540 million since its 2020 launch, according to AppMagic estimates. Supercell has been a long-term investor and partner in Metacore, having previously transferred the soft-launch game Everdale to the studio in 2023.
MTG hires Supercell marketer as midcore CMO
Swedish roll-up group MTG has appointed Iwo Zakowski — formerly Supercell's global head of marketing for live games and previously head of global brand marketing at Burger King — as CMO for its midcore division. Zakowski will oversee marketing across MTG's midcore studios, a portfolio the company says includes Plarium, InnoGames, Snowprint, Hutch, Ninja Kiwi and PlaySimple. He will lead marketing for long-running titles such as Raid: Shadow Legends, Forge of Empires and Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus, and says his early focus will be learning what works across studios before implementing change. The article was published 2026-07-02.
Zynga's Mark Pincus reveals near-miss $400m Supercell acquisition
Mark Pincus, founder of Zynga, revealed on the Deconstructor of Fun podcast that his company nearly acquired Supercell for $400 million in 2012. A handshake agreement was reached with Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen, but Zynga's board blocked the deal after the earlier $200 million acquisition of OMGPOP and its Draw Something game proved unsuccessful. Pincus noted that Supercell posted $500 million in net profit the following year, highlighting the lost opportunity. He also reflected on other decisions, including a $550 million acquisition approved by the board under his successor (which matches Zynga's 2014 purchase of NaturalMotion), and his later $800 million stock buyback program. Pincus expressed regret over not pushing harder for the deal, criticizing the lack of vision in the Western gaming industry.
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