Clash of Clans maker profit up despite Pokemon challenge

Good year: Supercell co-founder and CEO Ilkka Paananen at the company's headquarters in Finland, 2016. Supercell's core profit rose 8% last year. — Reuters

HELSINKI: Supercell, the maker of hit mobile game Clash Of Clans, said on Feb 15 sales growth stalled last year due to competition from new challengers such as Nintendo Co's Pokemon GO, though earnings rose.

The Finnish company, majority owned by China's Tencent Holdings Ltd, said profits benefited from lower spending on advertising and the successful launch of its latest game, Clash Royale.