So here’s something interesting I came across this week — Tencent is finally bringing Supercell games into WeChat, starting with Brawl Stars. If you’ve ever played the game, you already know how addictive and fast-paced it is. Now imagine playing it directly from inside WeChat without needing a separate app. Yep, that's where Tencent is headed.
To give some context: Supercell is the Finnish game studio behind hits like Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, and of course Brawl Stars. Tencent has owned a majority stake in Supercell for years, but their games were always kind of siloed — available globally, but not deeply woven into Tencent’s own platforms in China.
That changes now. With Brawl Stars launching within WeChat, China’s biggest social messaging app, Tencent is basically creating a shortcut for its massive user base (over 1.3 billion users) to jump straight into gameplay. No App Store, no downloads, no friction. Just tap and play inside the chat.
Personally, I think this is a brilliant move for two big reasons:
Super convenience
Most casual players don’t want to switch between multiple apps or install large files. Putting games directly inside WeChat could pull in users who otherwise wouldn’t bother downloading Brawl Stars. It’s all about reducing steps, and Tencent gets that.Social + gaming = retention gold
When your friend sends a message saying, “1v1 me now?” and you can instantly launch the game in the same app — that’s powerful. It keeps users inside Tencent’s ecosystem and encourages more multiplayer interaction. It’s not just a game anymore; it’s embedded in your daily chats.
Also, let’s not forget the business angle. WeChat already supports mini-programs, payments, livestreams — it’s a full platform. By bringing Supercell games into that world, Tencent could unlock new revenue models: integrated payments, live game streaming, in-chat events, and who knows what else.
For now, Brawl Stars is just the beginning. If it works well, we could see other Supercell titles like Clash Royale and Clash of Clans making the jump too.
I’ll be watching this rollout closely. It’s one thing to localize a global game, but it’s a whole different game (pun intended) to completely embed it into a super app like WeChat. And if it works in China, don’t be surprised if similar ideas start popping up in apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or even Instagram.
