Alexander Lewis 
Nov 27, 2023
ByteDance, the developer behind TikTok, is planning to shut down its Nuverse gaming brand and step back from mainstream video games, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The decision comes after a review of ByteDance's gaming business, however, specific details of the restructuring were not disclosed.
The developer would inform its employees to stop working on games in the developing stage. The company will also explore ways to divest from games that have already been launched, Reuters cited the sources as saying.
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This move is anticipated to affect numerous employees, with some learning about it over the weekend.
The anonymous sources claimed that ByteDance does not intend to rejoin the $185 billion global video games market.
The decision marks a significant shift for the Chinese technology firm. Casual gaming brand Ohayoo, whose games are featured on Douyin (TikTok's sister app in China), will remain unaffected, along with casual games running on TikTok itself.
Reuters had reported earlier this month that ByteDance was looking for buyers for its game-developing subsidiary, Moonton Technology.
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Furthermore, the company also revamped its virtual reality unit, Pico, leading to substantial cuts in its content team.
Nuverse was created by ByteDance in 2019 as a major opponent in the global gaming industry, ranking itself against domestic rival Tencent Holdings, the world's largest gaming company.
However, Nuverse's performance has been inconsistent. Its most well-known game, "Marvel Snap," gained a cult following but did not achieve commercial success. Other titles include action games such as "One Piece: The Voyage" and "Crystal of Atlanta."
In 2021, ByteDance officially categorised Nuverse as one of its six business units during a broader structural improvement. To enhance its production capabilities, Nuverse previously bought external studios, including C4games in 2021.
