Fans of Marvel Snap recently faced a significant setback due to a new ban on TikTok in the United States, which directly affects its parent company, ByteDance Ltd. As TikTok’s parent organization, ByteDance also oversees Nuverse, the publisher of Marvel Snap. Consequently, the game is now bound by U.S. regulations that prohibit ByteDance and its subsidiaries from distributing, maintaining, or updating their applications within the country.
In the wake of this ban, players expressed their bewilderment on social media, with many being unaware of the association between Marvel Snap and TikTok. The decision led to a surge in online interest, with Google search queries for Marvel Snap spiking sharply as the ban took effect on January 19.
The Fallout of Marvel Snap
In response to the sudden unavailability, Second Dinner, the developers behind Marvel Snap, shared an official statement via Twitter/X: “Unfortunately, MARVEL SNAP is temporarily unavailable in U.S. app stores and is unavailable to play in the U.S. This outage is a surprise to us and wasn’t planned.” This announcement left many players questioning the nature of the surprise, especially given that an in-game notification had been activated shortly after the ban was issued.
If it was a surprise, why was there an IN GAME notification about it as soon as it went down? You had to program that into the game before the ban went live. pic.twitter.com/nnc7g1qSqZ
— Crazy Paul (@_CrazyPaul) January 19, 2025
Despite the shocking circumstances, Second Dinner assured players that “MARVEL SNAP isn’t going anywhere. We’re actively working on getting the game up as soon as possible and will update you once we have more to share.” However, many Twitter users questioned how such a well-publicized legislative change could catch the developers off guard, highlighting a disconnect in communication.
Mobile Legends: A Casualty of the Ban
Marvel Snap was not the only game affected by this governmental action. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), which boasts the second-largest esports viewership globally according to Esports Charts, also became a casualty of the ban due to its developer, Moonton, being a subsidiary of Nuverse.
While MLBB has not achieved the same level of popularity in the U.S. as it has in East Asia, its sudden removal left many fans disheartened and questioning the reasons behind such a hasty decision.
Mobile Legends Bang Bang got banned with no warning?!😭💔 pic.twitter.com/hxO44Y4ffg
— ÐДnłFĿØP (@DANIEL_uwuu) January 19, 2025
Moonton is also known for other games such as the mobile RPG Watcher of Realms and the spin-off Mobile Legends: Adventure. The enforcement of the TikTok ban follows months of speculation about potential actions against ByteDance, marking a pivotal moment for mobile gaming in the U.S.
Despite attempts by TikTok to navigate the changing landscape, including talks surrounding a sale to American investors, the future remains uncertain. Notably, popular YouTuber Mr. Beast and tech mogul Elon Musk were recently rumored to be potential buyers of the platform, showcasing how the ongoing situation continues to capture the public’s attention.
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