Two games were unlikely victims of the TikTok ban today due to ties with ByteDance.
We've ticked over to Jan. 19, which means the TikTok ban has arrived in the U.S. Thousands of users hit social media as the clock approached midnight with users in the United States met with a "Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now" message.
What some didn't see coming, however, was the ban also affecting other ByteDance products — including games like Marvel Snap and developer MOONTON's Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Players in the U.S. have also encountered similar messages upon launching the titles — and there's no telling when they'll be able to play again.
TikTok U.S. ban stretches into the gaming world as big name titles become locked
The TikTok ban stretches beyond just the social media company with ByteDance's umbrella corporations and their products also banned in the U.S. as of Jan. 19. From video editor CapCut to messaging and productivity apps, if they're associated with ByteDance, they're inaccessible in the U.S. as of today.
Several games are also included: popular card game Marvel Snap (published by Nuverse) and MOBA Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MOONTON).
Players are reporting that they've been logged out of their accounts and are met with a message similar to that displayed on TikTok. "A law banning Marvel Snap has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can't use Marvel Snap for now," it reads.
The message concludes with assurances that publishers are working to "restore our service in the U.S." The reason: Nuverse publishes Marvel Snap in the region, and as the publisher is owned by TikTok's ByteDance, it too has been banned.
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The app cannot be updated and is no longer available in app stores if the user based in the U.S. region. Marvel Snap developer Second Dinner was quick to issue a statement, indicating both they and Nuverse were taken surprise by the ban and are working to restore service.
MOONTON, developers of popular mobile game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, issued a similar statement after it was discovered U.S. players couldn't access the MOBA as clocks struck midnight. "Due to circumstances beyond our control, access to Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in the US will unfortunately be temporarily suspended starting January 19, 2025."
Until such time that ML:BB players in the U.S. can play again, MOONTON recommends exporting account and game data via the website but stresses they are "exploring possibilities to bring the game back in the future." No timeframe has been given for when U.S. players can play again.
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump said via an NBC News interview he is seeking a 90-day extension to the TikTok ban, which likely would include these affected apps and games.
Unfortunately, it's little solace to the many U.S.-based players who have forked out money for microtransactions in the games; players who are now unable to access them without resorting to third-party tools like a VPN.
Esports.gg will update as the story develops. Stay tuned for more on the TikTok ban.
