The latest Evangelion collaboration has Brawl Stars China players getting exclusive Eva-themed skins while the rest of the world watches from the sidelines. Here's why this regional inequality is becoming a serious problem.
While global Brawl Stars players have been asking for anime collaborations for years, China quietly received one of the most coveted partnerships in mobile gaming: an official Evangelion collaboration featuring iconic Eva Unit designs.
The collaboration includes stunning skins like Mecha Edgar Unit-00, complete with the distinctive Eva aesthetic that fans worldwide have been craving. But here's the kicker – if you're playing the global version of Brawl Stars, you can't get these skins. Period.
This isn't an isolated incident. The Chinese version of Brawl Stars, operated by Tencent Games, has become a completely different game compared to the global version. While global players struggle with basic progression, Chinese players enjoy:
The frustrating part? Other mobile games prove that global Evangelion collaborations are absolutely possible. Both Battle Cats and Puzzles & Dragons have successfully launched multiple Eva collaborations worldwide, giving all players equal access to iconic characters and content.
Battle Cats has run Eva events since 2018, with their most recent collaboration in 2025 reaching players globally. Puzzles & Dragons has been even more consistent, with GungHo Entertainment regularly bringing Eva content to North America and other regions since 2014.
So why can't Supercell do the same?
The answer lies in business strategy rather than technical limitations. Tencent's management of Brawl Stars China allows them to secure region-specific licensing deals that cater specifically to the Chinese market. These exclusive partnerships create a premium version of the game that keeps Chinese players engaged while global players receive a watered-down experience.
The visual comparison above shows just how different the two versions have become. While global players get standard content updates, Chinese players receive premium collaborations, better progression systems, and exclusive features that fundamentally change the game experience.
Global Brawl Stars players have supported Supercell for years, yet they're treated as second-class citizens when it comes to premium content. The Evangelion collaboration represents everything wrong with this approach – a beloved franchise that could unite the global community instead becomes another tool for regional division.
The solution isn't complicated. Other developers have proven that global collaborations work. Supercell has the resources and reach to negotiate worldwide licensing deals. The only thing missing is the will to treat all players equally.
The gaming community needs to demand better. When major collaborations like Evangelion remain region-locked, it sets a dangerous precedent that divides the player base and creates artificial scarcity. Global players deserve access to the same premium content, collaborations, and features that make the game worth playing.
Until Supercell addresses this inequality, global Brawl Stars will remain a inferior version of a game that could be so much more. The Evangelion collaboration should have been a celebration for all players – instead, it's become another reminder of what we're missing.