Lasse Seppänen leaves Supercell for new AI
Longtime Supercell executive Lasse Seppänen has left the company after over seven years. He plans to form a new UK-based game studio in 2027, motivated by AI advancements and a passion for new IPs and digital card games.
Lasse Seppänen has departed from Supercell after more than seven years with the company. He announced his exit and plans to form a new game startup in 2027, citing recent advancements in AI tools as a key motivator.
Leadership Roles at Supercell
Seppänen held several leadership roles during his tenure at the mobile games giant. He served as game lead for titles including Hay Day, Boom Beach, and Everdale. He later became head of game production services for Helsinki-based teams and spent his final year and a half as general manager of Supercell London. In that London role, he helped integrate the studio following Supercell's acquisition of Beatstar maker Space Ape.
Motivation for the Move
Seppänen stated his departure follows a period of daydreaming about startups. He specifically pointed to maturing AI tools and the opportunities they present for small, ambitious teams. He expressed a passion for building new game intellectual properties. The executive also shared specific excitement for digital card games. He suggested this category, in the current era of AI tooling, offers significant room to create entirely new kinds of game experiences. While he has not disclosed specific details about his next project, he teased that more information would come when the time is right.
Career History and Next Steps
After helping establish Supercell's London office, Seppänen will remain in the UK for his next venture. His career in games spans close to three decades, including almost six years at Remedy Entertainment. He also has prior founding experience from the 2010s.
| Company/Role | Key Detail |
|---|---|
| Elven Industries | Co-founded by Seppänen in the 2010s. |
| PlayRaven | Co-founded by Seppänen in the 2010s; acquired by Rovio in 2018. |
| Remedy Entertainment | Worked there for almost six years earlier in his career. |
| Supercell | Served for over seven years in various leadership roles. |
It has been over a decade since Seppänen last founded or co-founded a games studio. In a LinkedIn post, Seppänen reflected on his time at Supercell. He wrote that after seven and a half magical years, he had decided to leave Supercell. He thanked several colleagues, including Ilkka Paananen, Sara Jansson Bach, Eino Joas, and Janne Snellman. He praised the company's culture, calling it a truly special company that hands its employees an enormous amount of trust and freedom. Seppänen noted this culture is a superpower he hasn't seen elsewhere and confirmed he is holding on to his Supercell shares for the long term.
