Marvel Snap got caught up in the TikTok ban; so what does this mean for us?

by

  • TikTok’s banning was one of the biggest news stories over the weekend
  • But Marvel Snap and other top releases also saw themselves pulled down
  • With Second Dinner seemingly at a loss, this match of political football might be a dangerous one to play

Over the weekend, one significant event that has garnered attention, whether positively or negatively, is TikTok being temporarily unavailable in the United States. This potential blockade was previously discussed due to a congressional act viewing it as an app controlled by a foreign adversary. It appears that this restriction officially started on Sunday.

Indeed, you’re likely aware that upon taking office, President-elect Donald Trump vowed to reinstate the suspended service, and ByteDance swiftly brought their popular social media platform out of voluntary exile. Yet, not all of their applications have experienced such a grand, celebratory comeback as yet.

To put it simply, Marvel Snap, a widely recognized card battler based on Marvel comics, was among the games affected by a ban over the weekend. This includes Marvel Snap and other games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang from ByteDance’s subsidiary Moonton, which were taken offline in the United States with a notice stating they had been prohibited.

The implication from ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, was straightforward: if you wanted their entire package, then you got nothing if you didn’t take everything offered.

As a devoted fan, I’ve found myself quite surprised by the recent turn of events. It appears that the developer, Second Dinner, didn’t receive any prior warning about this issue, and they’ve been actively addressing it on Twitter for the past day or so – a situation that’s been quite intriguing to say the least. They’ve pledged to restore Marvel Snap as quickly as possible, but this incident has certainly sparked some thought-provoking and, frankly, unsettling questions.


Catch!

Without needing a background in political science (since I don’t possess one), it’s obvious that TikTok’s temporary shutdown and its targeted message emphasizing Trump as a potential rescuer was probably a smart strategy by ByteDance to spark discussions. And judging by the results, this move appears to have been successful – enabling them to reappear in the U.S. market with quite a flair.

However, this political game of soccer-like maneuvering also affected the previously mentioned video games, and it seems ByteDance may have abandoned some of its developers in a bind, using common speech. To compensate for the lost time, developers at Second Dinner have promised some valuable free rewards, hoping that players will get their cards back by the time of publication.

It’s unlikely this situation will cause them to abandon their successful partnership with ByteDance, but it may not have boosted their trust in the company. The impression given is that ByteDance values its algorithm-driven social media business over mobile gaming, which appears to be less prioritized.


Game over

Stone cold fact: ByteDance’s gaming sector hasn’t exactly been the star performer, with their social media business clearly stealing the limelight. This isn’t a new development; way back in 2023, the company’s gaming division experienced a significant downsizing. A series of layoffs resulted in hundreds of employees losing their jobs and many promising projects being shelved before they could even debut.

Although it appeared that ByteDance might focus on partnerships instead of self-developed releases following the success of Marvel Snap’s hit game, this breach of trust could significantly alarm other potential developers and publishers about their involvement in any future political controversy that ByteDance may encounter.

It’s unlikely that those in Disney’s “mouse castle” are feeling joyful either, as Disney has once again become relevant with the launch of NetEase’s Marvel Rivals. This mobile game has significantly increased the momentum of the mobile gaming industry through a collaboration with other IPs this month. While politicians might have underestimated ByteDance, gamers, developers, and intellectual property holders are not likely to share their optimism.


They think it’s all over…

It’s been hinted that ByteDance might just be the start of a larger issue. Companies like Tencent, NetEase, and numerous other Chinese game developers could potentially face scrutiny next. The FTC has already challenged MiHoYo over their loot box practices, and this high-profile dispute may not deter future politicians from pursuing similar actions against the gaming industry.

In the Marvel Snap scenario, I noticed that many people, particularly the elderly, who were indifferent or at best hesitant towards TikTok, began to pay attention when their favorite card battler was removed. This move by ByteDance turned out to be clever and unforeseen, but it has raised some concerns as its success sets a potentially troublesome precedent.

In essence, it’s troubling to consider the reaction when an individual’s cherished leisure activity becomes influenced by decisions made in Washington, with adversaries self-proclaimed on the other side of the globe. A famous saying about bread and entertainment might unexpectedly come back to haunt all parties involved.

Read More

2025-01-20 20:18