Marvel Snap Impacted by TikTok Ban: What's Next?

If there's a contender for the biggest news over the weekend, it's undoubtedly TikTok's temporary ban in the United States. This action, long anticipated due to a congressional act labeling it as a "foreign adversary controlled application," finally took effect on Sunday. You're likely aware that President-elect Donald Trump quickly pledged to restore its service, and ByteDance promptly brought their popular social media app back online. However, the same cannot be said for some of ByteDance's other applications.

A notable example is Marvel Snap, the well-received comic-themed card battler. As reported over the weekend, Marvel Snap, along with other games from ByteDance subsidiaries such as Moonton's Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, were abruptly taken offline in the U.S., displaying a message about being banned. ByteDance's message was clear: accept all their offerings or get none at all.

The real surprise? Developer Second Dinner seemed to be caught off guard by this move and has been managing the fallout on Twitter for the past 24 hours. Despite their efforts, they've promised to swiftly bring Marvel Snap back online. This incident raises some troubling and complex questions.

Catch!You don't need a degree in political science to see that TikTok's shutdown and the pointed message singling out Trump as its potential savior was a calculated move by ByteDance to stir conversation. And it worked, allowing ByteDance to dramatically return to U.S. availability.

However, this political maneuver also affected other gaming releases, leaving developers like Second Dinner in a lurch. They've had to offer significant free rewards to compensate for the downtime when players regain access to their cards, hopefully by the time this article is published.

While it's unlikely that Second Dinner will end their lucrative partnership with ByteDance over this, it certainly hasn't boosted their confidence. The message seems clear: mobile gaming is secondary to ByteDance's lucrative social media endeavors.

Game overThis isn't the first time ByteDance has prioritized social media over gaming. In 2023, their gaming division underwent massive layoffs, canceling many projects before they could launch.

Since then, Marvel Snap appeared to signal a new strategy of partnerships rather than in-house development. However, this significant breach of trust could make other developers and publishers wary of getting entangled in ByteDance's next political controversy.

Disney, too, might not be pleased, as the recent release of NetEase's Marvel Rivals gave mobile gaming a significant boost with a crossover collaboration earlier this month. ByteDance may have called the bluff of politicians, but players, developers, and IP holders are likely to be less forgiving.

They think it’s all over…Rumors suggest ByteDance might just be the beginning. Other Chinese gaming giants like Tencent and NetEase could be next in line. The FTC has already targeted MiHoYo over loot boxes, and even this high-profile incident and its anticlimactic resolution may not deter the next politician from targeting gaming.

What might happen next? Marvel Snap's removal caught the attention of many, particularly older players who were indifferent to TikTok. ByteDance's strategic gamble paid off, setting a concerning precedent. When people's favorite pastimes become subject to political whims, the fallout could be significant, echoing the old adage about bread and circuses.