Marvel Snap has returned and developers wish to switch publishers

The temporary shutdown of TikTok in the US on January 19th unexpectedly impacted Marvel Snap, the popular card game published by Nuverse (a ByteDance subsidiary). This disruption, lasting approximately 24 hours, resulted in the game becoming temporarily inaccessible. While Marvel Snap is now back online, full functionality, including in-app purchases, is still being restored.

This incident prompted Second Dinner Studios, the game's developer, to explore a shift in publishers and the internalization of certain services. This strategic move, announced on Platform X, is a direct response to the inherent political risks associated with ByteDance's ownership of TikTok. The company was granted only a 90-day extension to divest 50% of its US operations to a local buyer, leaving Marvel Snap vulnerable to future blockages should this agreement fail.

Second Dinner Studios has promised further updates. While many players experienced authorization problems, Steam users retained access. The developers expressed surprise at the sudden disruption and emphasized their commitment to restoring full service. An official Platform X statement reassured players: "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, as many players unknowingly continued making in-game purchases before the service interruption.