Will Marvel Rivals Get Banned After Marvel Snap US Ban?

The US government’s recent action against ByteDance has led to Marvel Snap’s removal from major app stores, affecting millions of players across the country. The popular card battler disappeared from both Apple’s App Store and Google Play late Saturday night, catching many players off guard.

Second Dinner, the California-based developer of Marvel Snap, confirmed the takedown through their X (formerly Twitter) account, stating it came as a surprise.

The game’s removal stems from its connection to ByteDance. Players attempting to access the game now see a message explaining the US law prevents them from using the service.

Why Did Marvel Snap Get Banned?

The ban stems from recent legislation targeting ByteDance-owned applications in the United States. While TikTok’s removal was widely anticipated, Marvel Snap’s connection to ByteDance through its publisher Nuverse wasn’t common knowledge among players.

The shutdown affects mobile versions and PC players, who report being unable to log in through Steam. The sudden nature of the ban particularly affects players who recently made in-game purchases, expecting continued access to the game.

Will Marvel Rivals Get Banned in the US?

When I asked about Marvel Rivals in the game’s official Discord channel, moderators quickly confirmed that Marvel Rivals won’t face similar restrictions. The game, developed and published by NetEase Games, operates under a different ownership than Marvel Snap.

NetEase Games, a Chinese developer, collaborates directly with Marvel Games for this hero shooter, which launched in December 2024.

The distinction between these two Marvel games lies in their publishing rights and ownership structure. While Marvel Snap falls under ByteDance’s umbrella through Nuverse, Marvel Rivals maintains its operations through NetEase Games, keeping it outside the scope of the current US legislation targeting ByteDance properties.

Second Dinner maintains optimism about Marvel Snap’s future, stating “Marvel Snap isn’t going anywhere” and promising to work on restoring service. However, no specific timeline has been provided for the game’s return to US app stores or service restoration for existing players.