Bytedance is shutting down its games unit as the company behind TikTok and Douyin announced job cuts across its gaming division. The company is winding down Nuverse, one of its gaming arms, and potentially axing projects under development. The move is not uncommon in the gaming industry, which has seen Amazon wind down its gaming unit just two weeks prior.
You might recognise Nuverse from highly-anticipated card-battler game Marvel Snap, which was released less than a year ago, as well as several other prominent franchises including Warhammer 40,000 and One Piece. Nuverse recently released Crystal of Atlan this year, a “magi-punk MMORPG” which quickly became one of its most popular games.
However, with job cuts across the board and project titles winding down, Bytedance pulling Nuverse out of the gaming scene is a victory for rival company Tencent, which has considerable influence over the Chinese gaming market.
Bytedance previously acquired Moonton, the gaming studio behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, but with the announcement, is looking to sell it, being rumored to be in the early stages of negotiations.
With Nuverse winding down its projects, its recently released games may have short-lived futures as Bytedance prepares to shut down its games unit.
Trinity is a geek who enjoys watching anime, superhero and Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. She enjoys gaming (however has terrible gacha luck) and creates cool homebrew campaigns in her free time. She’s always up for a new adventure — with a cosy jacket and a good book in hand.
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