Marvel Snap players in the United States are waking up to a ban notification suggesting the game is no longer available in the region. The digital collectible card game, published by Nuverse, a ByteDance subsidiary, is reportedly affected by the same legislation that led to restrictions on TikTok and CapCut. The message received by players reads:
“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 ban follows the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), which was enacted in April 2024 with overwhelming bipartisan support. The legislation reflects growing concerns among US lawmakers about potential national security risks posed by ByteDance, a Chinese-owned company. These include fears over data access and content manipulation by the Chinese government.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court upheld the law, ruling that divestiture or bans were lawful actions to address security concerns. ByteDance has faced significant scrutiny over its flagship app TikTok, which has been at the center of debates on user data privacy. ByteDance’s attempts to alleviate concerns, such as the proposed $2 billion Project Texas plan, which involves Oracle overseeing data operations, have so far failed to satisfy US authorities.
Marvel Snap, developed by Second Dinner and published by ByteDance’s Nuverse, launched globally on October 18, 2022, after a successful beta period. The game features a roster of iconic Marvel characters and has garnered a loyal player base since its release. However, its connection to ByteDance has now led to its restriction under PAFACA, significantly limiting its availability in the United States.
Marvel Snap was also available on the Steam Store, however it is uncertain if the game will remain accessible for users in the US, or if it will be removed from there as well.
