The popular mobile card game Marvel Snap has been abruptly banned in the United States, catching many players off guard. The game’s removal is tied to broader legislative actions targeting TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance.
The ban comes as part of a sweeping move against applications controlled by foreign entities deemed potential security threats. Marvel Snap, developed by Second Dinner but published by ByteDance’s Nuverse, fell victim to this crackdown.
Players across the country expressed shock and disappointment at losing access to their favorite digital card battles. Many took to online forums to share their frustration and seek out alternatives to fill the Marvel-shaped void in their gaming routines.
"Marvel Snap" is banned in the U.S. because of the TikTok ban pic.twitter.com/eYE7s8oeQu
— Marvel Rivals Updates (@RivalsAlerts) January 19, 2025
Some gamers saw the writing on the wall, having predicted potential issues due to the game’s connection to ByteDance. These prescient players are now feeling vindicated, though likely still disappointed by the outcome.
Forbes reported that Bytedance preemptively removed Marvel Snap from app stores to comply with expected legislative actions. This move has led to conversations about the motivations behind the ban and its legality.
The legislation at the heart of this issue, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, specifically targets apps with significant data control by entities considered hostile to the US. This has brought new attention to debates about data privacy and national security in the digital age.
While some users express relief at no longer having access to what they describe as an addictive game, others lament the loss of their daily Marvel fix. Suggestions for alternative card games have begun circulating, with titles like Legends of Runeterra and Magic: The Gathering gaining traction.