The Unexpected Ban of Marvel Snap
While many anticipated the U.S. government would take action against TikTok due to its ties with the Chinese company ByteDance, few expected that Marvel Snap would share the same fate. The popular card game, developed by Second Dinner and published by ByteDance-owned Nuverse, has also gone offline in the U.S. following the shutdown of TikTok.
TikTok’s Shutdown Timeline
On Saturday, January 18, TikTok officially ceased functioning within U.S. borders, just hours before a deadline set by legislation requiring ByteDance to divest its stake or face a ban. Users attempting to access TikTok now encounter a notification stating that the app is unavailable due to the new law. In a surprising twist, Marvel Snap players are receiving a similar message.
A Message from Marvel Snap
When attempting to open Marvel Snap, players are met with the following notification: “Sorry, Marvel Snap isn’t available right now. A law banning Marvel Snap has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use Marvel Snap for now. Rest assured, we’re working to restore our service in the U.S. Please stay tuned!”
The Connection Between Marvel Snap and ByteDance
For those unfamiliar, Marvel Snap has gained immense popularity thanks to its engaging gameplay and appealing Marvel-themed characters. However, because it is published by Nuverse, a subsidiary of ByteDance, it became a casualty of the broader crackdown on the company’s apps.
Developers Respond to the Ban
Ben Brode, the Chief Development Officer and Co-Founder of Second Dinner, expressed his surprise regarding the ban on BlueSky. He noted, “Unfortunately, Marvel Snap is temporarily unavailable in U.S. app stores and is unavailable to play in the U.S. This was a surprise to Second Dinner and our publisher Nuverse. We’re actively working on getting the game up as soon as possible and will update you once we have more to share.”
A Creative Solution for Players
In the meantime, Brode offered a piece of advice for players eager to continue enjoying the game. He mentioned that using a VPN could be a viable workaround: “FWIW I am hearing that VPN software will allow you to continue playing Marvel Snap in the meantime, as long as you pretend you’re from Canada or something.”
Looking Ahead
As the situation develops, fans of Marvel Snap are left waiting for updates on the game’s status in the U.S. For those who want to catch up on the game’s features and gameplay, consider checking out our comprehensive review of Marvel Snap while you await its potential return.
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Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.
