Just a few years ago, I viewed mobile esports more as a curiosity than something that could actually last. Perhaps it’s because I’ve never really been a ‘mobile gamer’ in the true sense of the word. Admittedly, like many of my generation, I remember my secondary school days, when we’d fire up Clash of Clans between lessons to check if anyone had attacked our village. That was a time when mobile games really were ‘everywhere’. But for me, that phase never developed into anything more. That’s why the news that NPK Esport is launching a new division in Brawl Stars came as a… surprise to me. Not because it’s a bad decision, quite the opposite.
I was simply convinced that titles of this kind had long since passed their peak. That the boom was over, and the scene, especially in Poland, had already quietened down. And yet, someone is still investing in it. And not just anyone, but an organisation that has consciously decided to enter a specific niche. This automatically raises the question: is this just a one-off move, or perhaps the start of something bigger? Does mobile esports, and specifically Brawl Stars, still have the potential to return to the wider consciousness of gamers? Because if you look at it objectively, it’s not at all the case that this game has ‘died’. It has simply ceased to be as high-profile as it once was.
From boom to stability – a brief history of the mobile scene
To understand where Brawl Stars and its entire scene stand today, it’s worth going back a few years. To the point when mobile games were actually starting to reach a higher level. Around 2020–2021 was the period when this segment was experiencing its greatest boom. In Poland, the first more organised teams were emerging, and esports organisations were increasingly boldly testing new directions. Brawl Stars, as one of the most popular mobile titles, naturally became part of this trend. Suddenly, it turned out that something which, until recently, had been associated mainly with casual entertainment, was beginning to lay the foundations for something far more serious.
At that time, mobile esports was a kind of experiment, but at the same time it held a very concrete promise. Accessibility was its greatest strength. Virtually everyone had a mobile phone, so the barrier to entry was incomparably lower than for traditional esports titles. This offered hope for the creation of a more open, diverse and potentially mass-market scene. For a while, it looked truly promising, and successive initiatives only reinforced the impression that we were witnessing the dawn of something bigger.
As is often the case, however, the biggest problem turned out to be… time. The hype that had propelled mobile games to the peak of interest was unable to sustain itself at that level. As the months passed, interest began to gradually wane, and some organisations withdrew from the segment. Tournaments ceased to be as prominent as before, and the players themselves increasingly returned to more ‘traditional’ esports. As a result, a scene that just moments earlier had seemed to be growing at breakneck speed began to stabilise. Although to many this might have looked like a clear step backwards.
It is worth noting, however, that “stabilisation” does not mean decline in this case. Brawl Stars still operates globally as a title with an active tournament scene, and the official Brawl Stars Championship series continues to offer players a viable career path. The open qualification system means new teams still have a chance to make their mark, and the finals attract attention from communities around the world. It may no longer be on the same level as the biggest esports giants, but it is certainly not a scene that has disappeared. Today’s Brawl Stars sits somewhere between the hype of yesteryear and a stable, albeit less media-friendly, ecosystem… And it is precisely in this space that moves such as the one made by NPK are emerging.
NPK Esport’s new division – a move towards potential
Against the backdrop of the current situation surrounding Brawl Stars, NPK Esport’s decision begins to look far more interesting than it might at first glance. This is not, after all, a move into a trend that is currently on the rise and attracting the attention of the entire scene. On the contrary, it is a move towards something that has already seen its biggest boom and is currently in a phase of stabilisation. And that is precisely why one gets the impression that this is not a random decision. Rather, it is a conscious attempt to capitalise on a specific niche.
The very form of the announcement also says a lot about the organisation’s approach. No grand announcements, no building of suspense or marketing ‘hype’… Ultimately, it’s a simple message and a specific line-up: SAD3H, TURTUR, MASNY and the substitute potas. This approach doesn’t try to forcefully create a major event, but rather clearly communicates the intention: to enter the scene, test the waters and see what comes of it in the long run. In the reality of less high-profile titles, this approach often proves more effective than attempts to artificially inflate expectations.
And it is precisely in this simplicity that the movement’s greatest strength may lie. Rather than setting high goals straight away and declaring a fight for the top trophies, NPK seems to be taking a pragmatic approach. This does not look like a project geared towards immediate success, but rather a process. Developing players, gaining experience and observing how the scene will evolve. This type of strategy makes sense particularly in environments that are not yet fully formed or lie outside the mainstream.
It is also worth remembering that niche scenes operate by slightly different rules than the biggest titles. Here, it is not always the one with the biggest budget or the most recognisable brand that wins. Timing often proves to be key. Entering at the right moment, before the competition starts to grow again. And Brawl Stars, despite its lower media profile, still has solid foundations. Such as an active community, regular support from Supercell, and a thriving tournament scene. In this context, NPK Esport’s decision can be seen as a sensible investment in potential. Perhaps not spectacular, but certainly well-considered.
A return to fashion or a quiet rebuild?
This is where the most interesting part of the whole story begins, as we are now entering the realm of pure speculation and attempts to predict which direction all this might take. However, it is difficult to speak of a return of the “trend” in the same sense as we remember from a few years ago. That boom was driven by freshness, the novelty effect and the feeling that “everyone is playing it”. Back then, Brawl Stars was something new, being discovered on a large scale, which naturally generated interest from both players and organisations. Today, the situation is completely different. The game is now well-established on the market and lacks that element of surprise which fuelled its popularity at the start.
On the other hand, one cannot ignore the fact that, despite the passage of time, the scene is still going strong. The Brawl Stars Championship continues to provide a competitive structure in which players can develop and compete at an international level. The global community hasn’t disappeared, and regular support from Supercell ensures the game remains viable. This isn’t a title that has been abandoned by its creators… Quite the opposite, it’s a project which, like every other project from this publisher, continues to be developed and maintained.
Therefore, a gradual, quiet resurgence of interest seems a more realistic scenario than a sudden return of hype. Not at the mainstream level that attracts mass audiences and huge organisations. More in the form of a stable, growing ecosystem. In such an environment, teams like NPK Esport can find their place. That is, organisations that do not necessarily aim for the greatest successes straight away, but want to make use of the space that still exists on this scene. This approach can pay off, particularly when competition is lower and entry costs are not as high as in the biggest titles.
Of course, the risks cannot be overlooked. Mobile esports in Poland is not currently in the spotlight, and there is no clear indication that the situation will suddenly change. There are no clear signs suggesting a return to the level of interest seen a few years ago. At the same time, however, it is difficult to regard this scene as closed or devoid of a future. This is precisely why moves such as the one made by NPK can be seen as an investment in something which, although less visible, still has potential for growth and has not yet had its final say.
NPK Esport: between niche and opportunity
Looking at all this from the outside, NPK Esport’s decision seems surprisingly logical. There is no grand comeback of mobile esports here, nor a move that suddenly shifts the balance of power on the scene. Instead, we get something far more measured. Entering Brawl Stars without unnecessary hype, but with a concrete plan to utilise the space that still exists. It doesn’t look like following a trend, but rather a conscious attempt to find its place where the competition isn’t quite so fierce.
And whilst I still view this scene with a degree of detachment, it’s hard to ignore the fact that it simply hasn’t disappeared. Perhaps it operates more quietly than it used to, perhaps it no longer generates the same hype, but it still offers organisations real opportunities. I don’t know if this move will translate into something bigger, but it’s certainly no accident. And sometimes it is precisely such decisions, taken without pressure or grand declarations, that turn out to be the most interesting in the long run.
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