Update 11/1: After parent company ByteDance reportedly made the decision last year to wind down its gaming business, including publishing division Nuverse, Marvel Snap fans were left concerned about the future of the game.
At the time, developer Second Dinner had reassured players that the game would continue despite the troubles at its publisher, and now it’s been able to announce that it’s secured $100 million USD in a funding round led by Griffin Gaming Partners. The studio told GamesBeat that it will continue to operate independently and that it will use the new capital to both build out Snap as well as work on brand-new titles.
“We want to make smart, targeted bets that leverage our strengths and give us space to build fresh, innovative games that we love and that we want to share with millions of players, Second Dinner’s COO Matt Wyble told the outlet. “Having the right resources in place allows us to focus on the biggest opportunities without distraction.”
“Though details are under wraps for now, the early prototypes are sparking the same level of joy and passion we experienced early on with Snap. We’re fortunate to have a lot of exciting options for what’s next, now it’s all about identifying the most attractive opportunities and making great stuff.”
“In addition, we’re in the early stages of developing a new IP,” Wyble added. “Worldbuilding, similar to creating fun games, is an iterative art, and we have a small team crafting a universe that captivates us more and more each day. That team is collaborating with a renowned artist to bring our vision to life, and we can’t wait to reveal more about this in the future.”
Original Story: ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok along with mobile game publisher Nuverse, has announced that it’s exiting the video game business according to reporting from Bloomberg. The decision will likely affect hundreds of jobs as the company scraps in-development projects and attempts to shed itself of existing titles, such as the Second Dinner-developed Marvel Snap, though operations on these games will continue as normal.
The company is reportedly gearing up to make formal announcements on the future of its gaming arm and the fate of the studios in its stable very shortly.
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“We regularly review our businesses and make adjustments to center on long-term strategic growth areas. Following a recent review, we’ve made the difficult decision to restructure our gaming business,” a ByteDance spokesperson has reportedly said, though the full ramifications of this restructure remain unconfirmed.
The official X account for Marvel Snap has already addressed these developments directly, saying in a post, “Dear SNAPPERS,
“Some of our players have expressed their concerns regarding reported structural changes at Nuverse.
“We wish to thank you for your concern and assure you that regardless of any changes at Nuverse, SNAP will continue to operate and flourish in the future!”
Dear SNAPPERS,
Some of our players have expressed their concerns regarding reported structural changes at Nuverse.
We wish to thank you for your concern and assure you that regardless of any changes at Nuverse, SNAP will continue to operate and flourish in the future!— MARVEL SNAP (@MARVELSNAP) November 27, 2023
Reuters‘ own report says that ByteDance’s “casual” gaming brand, Ohayoo, as well as games on the TikTok platform, won’t be affected by this restructuring.
