Marvel Snap Resurfaces with Publisher Switch

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 briefly inaccessible. While Marvel Snap is now back online, full functionality, including in-app purchases, is still being restored.

In response to this unforeseen event, and citing political risks, developers are exploring a change of publisher and transitioning some services to internal management, as announced on X (formerly Twitter). This proactive measure aims to mitigate future disruptions stemming from the precarious political landscape surrounding TikTok's US operations. The company was granted only a 90-day extension to sell a 50% stake in its US business to a local owner; failure to finalize this agreement could lead to further blockages for TikTok and related projects like Marvel Snap.

Second Dinner Studios has promised further updates. While many players experienced authorization issues, Steam users retained access. The developers expressed surprise at the incident and emphasized their commitment to restoring full service, 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, leaving players vulnerable to unexpected in-app purchase limitations, added to the frustration.