Clash of Clans dev Supercell sells 51 percent stake to Softbank

Clash of Clans and Hay Day developer Supercell sold a 51 percent stake in the company worth $1.5 billion to the Japanese tech group Softbank, Reuters reports.

Of the total investment, 20 percent will come from Softbank's gaming subsidiary GungHo Online Entertainment, the company that acquired Lollipop Chainsaw and Killer Is Dead developer Grasshopper Manufacture earlier this year. The Finnish developer and GungHo previously joined forces to bring crossover features to Puzzle & Dragons, Clash of Clans and Hay Day.

"At Supercell, one of our greatest aspirations is to become the first truly global games company, one that has a strong foothold in both the West and the East, including Japan, Korea and China," a post on Supercell's blog by CEO Ilkka Paananen explains. "We want to build a company that people all over the globe will look back in 30 years and talk about all the great games that we developed and the impact they had on people's lives. The same way I personally feel about Nintendo, for example."

"I'm excited to see an independent Supercell continue to rise with great people and great games."

Paananen explains that the "strategic investment" will provide Supercell with a "massive selection of strategic resources" that will allow the developer to distribute its games worldwide. He also lauded Softbank founder Masayoshi Son's commitment to the longterm success of his company, citing his "300-year vision" for the company's future.

"In our quest to become the #1 mobile Internet company, we scour the globe in search of interesting opportunities and right now some of the most exciting companies and innovations are coming out of Finland," Son wrote on the Supercell blog. "Supercell is one of those rare and special companies. While your success is impressive, it is your amazing culture and deep passion that truly inspired me. After getting to know Ilkka and some of the team, it became clear to me that you, like us at Softbank, are on a similar long and aspirational journey to shape the future of entertainment for the next hundred years. And, I'm excited to see an independent Supercell continue to rise with great people and great games, delivering happiness to so many people around the world."

Founded in 2010, Supercell's Clash of Clans and Hay Day were earning approximately $1 million a day by the end of 2012.

Disclosure: Accel Partners, an investor in Supercell, is also an investor in Polygon parent company Vox Media.