Marvel Snap, developed by California-based Second Dinner and published by ByteDance subsidiary Nuverse, was unexpectedly removed from iOS and Android platforms on January 18, 2025. This ban, affecting other ByteDance apps like CapCut and Lemon8, left many players frustrated, particularly due to the lack of prior warning. Despite authorization issues reported by players, the game remains accessible on Steam for PC users.
Second Dinner has publicly confirmed their commitment to restoring Marvel Snap's availability on mobile, stating via Platform X: “Marvel Snap is here to stay. We're working hard to restore the game as quickly as possible, and we'll keep players informed of our progress.” The sudden removal is especially concerning for players who continued making in-app purchases unaware of the impending ban.
Interestingly, the impact on other ByteDance apps was inconsistent. While Marvel Snap was removed, games like Ragnarok X: 3rd Anniversary and Earth: Revival - Deep Underground remain playable.
Prior to the ban, we discussed the recent addition of the Moonstone card to Marvel Snap. Moonstone, a 4/6 Ongoing card, presents a significant meta shift. Her ability to copy the Ongoing effects of 1, 2, and 3-cost cards in her lane makes her exceptionally powerful, particularly given the existing number of low-cost Ongoing cards like Ant-Man and U.S. Agent. Unlike these cards, which primarily focus on power generation, Moonstone leverages these effects for free, allowing for rapid power accumulation.
