ByteDance Transfers US Publishing to Skystone in Major Shake-Up

In a significant shift within the mobile gaming industry this year, popular titles like Marvel Snap and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang are transitioning to a new publisher. ByteDance, previously responsible for publishing these games in the US, will no longer handle their releases. Instead, US-based Skystone Games is stepping in, taking over the publishing duties and planning to introduce new region-specific versions of these games.

The catalyst for this change was the earlier discussions around the TikTok ban, which, although resolved with the app coming back online, had a ripple effect on ByteDance's gaming portfolio. Several high-profile games were abruptly removed from app stores, often without warning to developers or players, due to political pressures urging ByteDance to divest from its social media platform.

While TikTok managed a swift return, the same couldn't be said for all affected games. Marvel Snap, for instance, quickly sought a new publisher and found one in Skystone Games, which now holds the rights to most of ByteDance's US-published titles.

This unexpected political involvement in mobile gaming was certainly not anticipated, yet it brings some relief to players. They can continue enjoying their favorite games, either as they were or through tailored US versions.

However, this situation is less than ideal, as it underscores the vulnerability of our favorite games to political maneuvers. As the deadline for a potential TikTok sale approaches, the broader implications for apps and associated games remain a concern, hinting at possible future challenges for the industry.