Supercell Studio, the studio behind hit mobile games such as Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, and Brawl Stars, announced on its official site a complete withdrawal of support for its titles in Russia and Belarus during the spring of 2023. The move reflected the company’s stance amid evolving geopolitical tensions and recent events in the region.
In a bid to align with broader sanctions and to respond to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Supercell had already removed its games from the Russian and Belarusian app marketplaces in March 2022. Since that time, the studio’s releases were technically accessible only to players who had previously downloaded them, but the company clarified that the ability to launch these titles would be terminated altogether. This represents a final step in severing official access for users in those markets, affecting both ongoing play and in-game purchases.
The exact timing for the blocking of access was not laid out with a precise date, only a general expectation that it would occur in the spring of 2023. It remained unclear whether the shutdown would be implemented across all games at once or rolled out gradually. There was no explicit detail on how any existing in-game purchases would be handled or reimbursed for players in Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Brawl Stars, Hay Day, and related titles. Arcade modes, in-game events, and other live features were also left unspecified regarding their post-block availability.
For context, this move forms part of a broader pattern in which Western developers reassess market access in response to regional conflicts and sanctions. It also underscores the importance for players to understand how political developments can impact game availability and service continuity, even for titles that remain popular years after their initial release. Players in Canada and the United States, and other regions, can expect ongoing updates from developers regarding regional access, safety, and data handling during such transitions. Marked disclosures from the company are available in official updates and press notes attributed to Supercell’s communications team.
While fans in affected regions may feel the impact of reduced access, many players outside the area continue to enjoy Supercell’s ongoing catalog, including title updates, balance patches, and new content releases. Developers frequently use these moments to remind the community of best practices for safeguarding account information and ensuring smooth transitions when services change. For readers following industry patterns, these developments illustrate the intersection of global events and digital entertainment, where policy decisions can directly shape how and where players engage with beloved games.
Note: Reports from various outlets indicate that the policy shift aligns with broader regulatory and market considerations. The information presented here reflects official notices and subsequent commentary from multiple industry observers. Citations accompany the claims to offer context without relying on any single source.