Supercell Fined in Brawl Stars Lawsuit Over Sprout Character Design

Supercell is facing a bizarre legal hurdle in 2026. A French court has ruled against the studio, determining that the design of Brawl Stars brawler Sprout was lifted from an air purifier. The device, known as 'Andrea,' is recognized not just as an appliance but as a piece of modern art previously displayed at New York City’s MoMA.

According to court findings, the similarities between the air purifier and Sprout were damning. The judge pointed to early concept art for the mobile game, which showed Sprout with a significantly different body shape. Because the design evolved to resemble the Andrea purifier later in development, the court concluded that Supercell had used the art piece as unauthorized inspiration.

The Cost of the Brawl Stars Lawsuit

The financial impact of the ruling is substantial. Supercell has been ordered to pay €250k in damages, plus an additional €120k to cover the claimant’s legal fees and 'moral damages.' Perhaps more pressingly for the game's live operations, the court has imposed a penalty of €1k for every day that Sprout appears in Brawl Stars or on the game's official social media channels, starting from the ruling.

The studio now faces a clear choice: they must either fully redesign the brawler or enter into licensing negotiations with the creator of the Andrea air purifier. While the studio has the financial resources to handle these costs, the legal constraints are tight. The court has specifically barred Supercell from informing players about upcoming changes to the character, citing concerns that such announcements would draw unwanted attention to the matter and worsen the impact on the designer.

What Happens to Sprout Skins?

For those worried about their in-game cosmetics, the ruling currently only applies to the base character model. The various skins for Sprout—including the Tropical, Lunar, Ruby, and Emerald editions—remain unaffected by the court's decision.

It is a strange turn of events for a game that has been a staple of mobile devices since its 2018 launch. While the case might seem harsh given the nature of the design inspiration, the court has been firm in its assessment. We will continue to monitor the situation to see if Supercell opts for a character redesign or moves toward a settlement with the designer.