When Did Brawl Stars Come Out: Full Release History and Timeline
Brawl Stars first launched as a beta on June 15, 2017, exclusively for iOS users in Canada. That soft launch lasted 522 days before the game went global on December 12, 2018, for both iOS and Android. Before launch, it had already earned over 5 million pre-registrations, and it pulled in $63 million in its first month. There’s a lot more to this game’s journey than just those dates — keep scrolling.
Key Takeaways
- Brawl Stars was initially revealed on June 14, 2017, with beta testing beginning the following day exclusively for iOS users in Canada.
- The soft launch ran for 522 days in Canada before the game’s worldwide release, generating $6.5 million in revenue.
- Brawl Stars officially launched globally on December 12, 2018, for both iOS and Android devices.
- The game earned over $63 million in its first month following the global launch, with over 5 million pre-registrations recorded.
- The game launched with 15 Brawlers and has since expanded to 101 Brawlers by April 2026.
When Did Brawl Stars Come Out?
Brawl Stars launched globally on December 12, 2018, for both iOS and Android, but it didn’t start there. Supercell first revealed the game during a livestream on June 14, 2017, then dropped it into beta the very next day — but only for iOS users in Canada.
That soft launch phase lasted 522 days before the game went worldwide. During that stretch, Supercell used player feedback to overhaul core mechanics, including switching from portrait mode to landscape with joystick controls. Internal doubts even existed about whether a full global release would happen at all.
Once it did launch, the results were immediate. The game pulled in over US$63 million in its first month alone, driven by diverse Brawlers, multiple game modes, and fast-paced gameplay. If you’re tracking the full timeline, December 12, 2018, is the date that matters most — but the journey started well over a year earlier. Supercell continued building on that momentum through initiatives like the Brawl Stars Championship, which helped grow the game’s competitive esports scene on a global scale.
What Was the Brawl Stars Soft Launch and Where Did It Start?
If you’ve ever wondered how Brawl Stars made its way to a global audience, it all started with a soft launch exclusively in Canada on June 15, 2017, available only on iOS. You could experience the game’s beta form for a total of 522 days before Supercell deemed it ready for worldwide release. During that period, Canada proved itself a dominant testing ground, generating 57% of the game’s total soft launch revenue of $6.5 million. This performance notably surpassed Clash Royale, which earned only $2.2 million during its own soft launch period.
Canada’s Exclusive Early Access
On June 15, 2017, Supercell quietly launched Brawl Stars into soft launch on the Canadian iOS App Store, just one day after announcing it via livestream. If you weren’t in Canada, you couldn’t play it — no exceptions. Android users everywhere waited even longer.
| Access Type | Region | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate Access | Canada | iOS Only |
| No Access | Rest of World | iOS & Android |
| Workaround Needed | Non-Canadian Users | iOS via Region Change |
That exclusivity made Canada the gatekeeper to something millions wanted. You either had a Canadian account or you found a workaround. Supercell needed real data from a controlled audience, and Canadian players unknowingly shaped what Brawl Stars would eventually become for everyone. To help players outside Canada get in early, PocketGamer created a guide that walked non-Canadian users through the steps to access the soft launch version of the game.
iOS Beta Launch Details
Canada’s role as gatekeeper connected directly to what Supercell was actually testing — a carefully scoped iOS beta that kicked off on June 15, 2017 (though some sources cite June 14). You wouldn’t find an Android version anywhere during this phase; iOS got the exclusive treatment entirely.
This soft launch wasn’t just a preview — it served a real purpose. Supercell collected your feedback, adjusted core mechanics, and stress-tested features like Bounty mode and Smash & Grab. You could play as at least nine Brawlers, each carrying unique skills and SUPER abilities across real-time 3v3 battles.
Every match you played fed directly into Supercell’s preparation for the global release, which wouldn’t arrive until December 12, 2018 — over a year later. Supercell is also known for developing Clash of Clans and Clash Royale, bringing significant experience in mobile game design to Brawl Stars.
Soft Launch Duration Explained
What began as a single-country iOS experiment stretched into a 522-day soft launch that reshaped virtually every corner of the game. When Brawl Stars launched in Canada on June 15, 2017, Supercell had serious doubts it would ever reach a global audience. They used that uncertainty productively, rebuilding the game from the ground up based on player feedback. During this period, the game underwent significant structural changes, including a transition from portrait to landscape mode, which affected controls, UI, and graphics.
Which Brawl Stars Brawlers Were Available at Launch?
When Brawl Stars soft-launched in June 2017, 15 Brawlers were available to players. Each Brawler fit into one of four rarities, giving you a clear progression path from the start.
Here’s how the launch roster broke down:
- Common (7 Brawlers): Shelly, Nita, Colt, El Primo, Jessie, Dynamike, and Brock — with Shelly made available automatically as your starting Brawler.
- Rare (4 Brawlers): Poco, Barley, Ricochet, and Bull — requiring more effort to obtain than Commons.
- Epic and Legendary (4 Brawlers): Bo and Mortis at Epic rarity, while Spike and Crow held the top Legendary spots.
Notably, no Mythic or Super Rare rarities existed at launch. The first post-launch addition, Piper, didn’t arrive until late June 2017. Compared to today’s roster of over 100 Brawlers, that original 15 feels remarkably small.
How Did the Brawl Stars Roster Grow From 15 to 101 Brawlers?
When Brawl Stars launched, you had just 15 brawlers to master, but Supercell steadily expanded the roster through Brawl Pass seasons and special events over the following years. You’ve watched that original lineup grow at a consistent pace, with the game reaching 98 brawlers by February 2026 and then climbing to 101 by April 2026. Today, you can collect all 101 brawlers, including recent additions like Sirius, Kaze, Ziggy, and Najia, each bringing unique mechanics that continue reshaping the meta.
Original 15 Brawlers
Brawl Stars launched its soft launch in June 2017 with just 15 brawlers, spanning four rarity tiers: Common (Shelly, Nita, Colt, El Primo, Jessie, Dynamike, and Brock), Rare (Poco, Barley, Ricochet, and Bull), Epic (Bo and Mortis), and Legendary (Spike and Crow).
These original 15 brawlers established three core elements that still shape the game today:
- Rarity-based progression — each tier offered distinct power levels and access challenges.
- Role diversity — tanks, supporters, and assassins were represented from day one.
- Meta foundation — the early roster created an unpredictable, raw competitive environment.
You’ll notice Shelly served as the default starting brawler, anchoring every new player’s experience. This carefully structured roster laid the groundwork for the game’s eventual expansion to 101 brawlers.
Early Roster Expansions
Starting with just 15 brawlers, the roster grew to 101 through a decade of structured expansions, beginning with Piper’s addition in July 2017 as the first post-launch brawler. The limited early character pool kept the player base small, but it laid the groundwork for everything that followed.
Reaching 101 Brawlers
Over the course of nearly a decade, the roster climbed from 15 brawlers to 101 through a steady cadence of seasonal releases, rarity tier expansions, and milestone reveals. You can trace the growth through three defining phases:
- The roster hit 22 brawlers by early 2019 following initial post-launch expansions.
- The Brawl Pass system accelerated seasonal character drops, pushing the count toward 100.
- February 24, 2026 marked the historic reveal of Sirius, the 100th brawler, followed by Najia as the 101st.
Seven rarity tiers now organize the full roster, with Ultra Legendary representing the newest and most complex additions. Each release shifted the competitive meta, ensuring you always had fresh strategies to explore.
When Did Brawl Stars Go Global and How Big Was the Launch?
After 18 months of testing, Supercell launched Brawl Stars globally on December 12, 2018, making it the company’s fifth game to go worldwide on both iOS and Android. The official announcement came on November 14, 2018, when Supercell shared the news with content creators at their Helsinki office. A trailer confirmed the December release, though it didn’t include any gameplay footage.
Before the global launch, the announcement alone drove over 5 million pre-registrations, with Supercell offering rewards to encourage early sign-ups. The excitement was real, and the numbers backed it up.
The launch itself marked the end of 522 days of testing, which included major changes like UI overhauls, a 2D-to-3D visual shift, and a switch from portrait to landscape mode. The results were significant — Brawl Stars grossed over US$63 million in its first month, proving the lengthy beta period was worth every adjustment Supercell made.
When Did Brawl Stars Esports Begin?
Brawl Stars’ competitive scene kicked off in earnest with its first World Championship on November 15–16, 2019, in Busan, South Korea. Nova Esports EU dominated the finals, defeating Animal Chanpuru 3–0 and claiming a $250,000 prize. The following year, PSG Esports topped INTZ 3–0 in the 2020 online finals, winning $200,000 despite COVID-19 forcing the event off LAN.
Nova Esports EU and PSG Esports defined Brawl Stars’ early championship legacy with dominant performances and six-figure prize wins.
Here’s what defines the modern championship structure you can follow today:
- Monthly Challenges – 72-hour in-game qualifiers running across six seasons each year
- Live LAN Events – Three marquee offline events, including the Brawl Cup and Challengers Finals
- World Finals – Top 12 teams compete for the ultimate title each November
The 2026 season raised the stakes further, partnering with BLAST for production and setting a $2,000,000 total prize pool across all events.
Brawl Stars in 2026: 101 Brawlers and a Global Competitive Scene
By early 2026, the game had crossed a landmark milestone: 101 Brawlers. The 100th, Sirius, was revealed on February 24, 2026, earning the title “First Star of Starr Park.” His release event required 99 wins to access him, and he introduced the Shadow Smash mode featuring lighting manipulation.
The roster’s growth reflects a decade of steady design work, expanding from 15 Brawlers at soft launch to over 100.
| Era | Brawler Count | Key Addition |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Launch | 15 | Original roster |
| 2018 Global | 22 | Portrait-to-landscape shift |
| 2022–2024 | 70+ | Hypercharges, Mythics |
| 2025 | 90+ | Mina, Kaze, Lumi, Finx |
| 2026 | 101 | Sirius revealed |
Competitively, 2026 brought AI-driven matchmaking, full cross-platform play, and balance updates like the January 23 maintenance patch, keeping the meta fresh and the scene viable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Platforms Is Brawl Stars Available to Download on Today?
You can download Brawl Stars on iOS and Android devices today. It’s available worldwide through the App Store and Google Play, with no console or PC versions currently available for download.
How Long Did the Brawl Stars Soft Launch Last Before Global Release?
You’d be surprised to know that Brawl Stars’ soft launch lasted an impressive 522 days before its global release! It ran from June 2017 through December 12, 2018, giving Supercell time to refine gameplay mechanics.
Has Brawl Stars Ever Collaborated With Other Games or Brands?
Brawl Stars has collaborated with at least one external brand — you’ll find the Baby Shark skin for El Primo as a notable example, though no other major game or brand partnerships are recorded.
What Is the Newest Brawler Added to Brawl Stars in 2026?
Based on the available information, you don’t have a confirmed new brawler explicitly added in 2026 yet. The latest known addition is Kaze, released on April 23, 2025, as an Ultra Legendary Assassin brawler.
How Much Money Did Brawl Stars Earn in Its First Month?
You’ll be happy to know that Brawl Stars earned over US$63 million in its first month after its global launch on December 12, 2018, setting a strong benchmark for the mobile battle arena genre.
Conclusion
You’ve now got the full picture of Brawl Stars’ journey, from its 2017 soft launch in Canada to a global phenomenon with 101 Brawlers and a thriving esports scene. You can see how Supercell built the game carefully before going worldwide in 2018. Whether you’re a longtime player or just getting started, you’re joining a game that’s grown massively and shows no signs of slowing down in 2026.
