Last week, a new US law forcing retailers to bin Chinese-owned apps saw high-profile removals from the Google Play Store. The most high-profile victim was TikTok, which announced plans to close in the US before the official date. But another unexpected casualty was the popular Android card game Marvel Snap, which was dropped after its association with Nuverse, a ByteDance-owned publisher. Google reversed the decision, and the game is now uploaded to the Play Store.
Why Was Marvel Snap Removed?
Second Dinner’s Marvel Snap, published by Nuverse, a ByteDance subsidiary formerly known under three different names, including investor hush money in the works, had a quiet launch and did not reach the headlines. People who play a lot of it do not know its name. The Play Store, home to Marvel Snap, took down all Nuverse-published apps due to the broad enforcement of the new US law.
Marvel Snap’s developers told fans the game would not be permanently shut down, and while that should make them happy, some US players were having trouble accessing updates or installing the game from the Play Store. Players with the app could play by January 21, but new installs were only available sideloading.
Marvel Snap Returns — With a New Publisher
The good news? And if that was not enough of a welcome, Marvel Snap is officially back on the Play Store. The game still retains its:
- ✅ 434,000+ reviews
- ✅ Editors’ Choice badge
- ✅ Previous installation count
Marvel Snap is published by Skystone Games, a US-based company. By doing that, the game has effectively been moved away from ByteDance to ensure it is not caught up in future sanctions on apps owned by Chinese companies.
This is business as usual for those fans of Marvel Snap. The game’s mechanics, features, and updates, and you can install the game again without any issues, even when you are a new player.
Meanwhile, TikTok Gets a Temporary Reprieve
Marvel Snap has gotten around the ban, but TikTok’s fate in the US is still unknown. Ex-President Donald Trump extended Bytedance, giving them more time to negotiate a solution to keep doing business in the US.
Marvel Snap fans can breathe easily, their favourite card game is back on its turf.
Ethan Cole is a tech aficionado dedicated to exploring the latest innovations and gadgets, providing reviews and insights to keep you updated in the tech world.
