The unexpected shutdown of TikTok in the US on January 19th had unforeseen consequences for Marvel Snap, the popular card game published by Nuverse (a ByteDance subsidiary). This resulted in a 24-hour outage for the game.
While Marvel Snap is now back online, full functionality remains incomplete, with in-app purchases currently unavailable. In response to this disruption, and citing political risks, developers are exploring a publisher change and internalizing some services, as announced on X.
This proactive measure aims to mitigate future disruptions. TikTok's precarious position, granted only a 90-day extension to sell a 50% stake to a US entity, leaves Marvel Snap vulnerable to further blockages should the sale fail.
Second Dinner Studios, the game's developer, has promised further updates. While many players reported authorization problems, Steam users experienced uninterrupted access. The developers expressed surprise at the event and are actively working to fully restore the game, stating on X: “Marvel Snap is here to stay. We're working hard to restore the game as quickly as possible, and we'll keep players informed of our progress”.
The lack of prior warning added to the frustration, leaving many players unaware of the potential lockout and continuing to make in-game purchases before the service interruption.
