On January 19th, a temporary US shutdown of TikTok unexpectedly impacted Marvel Snap, the popular card game published by Nuverse (a ByteDance subsidiary). This disruption, lasting approximately 24 hours, resulted in temporary game inaccessibility and the suspension of in-app purchases. While the game is now back online, full functionality, including purchasing options, is still being restored.
This incident, stemming from the ongoing political scrutiny surrounding TikTok's US operations, has prompted Second Dinner Studios to explore alternative publishing arrangements and internalize certain services. TikTok's 90-day extension to sell a 50% stake to a US entity leaves Marvel Snap vulnerable to future disruptions should the deal fail.
An official statement on X (formerly Twitter) assures players that "Marvel Snap is here to stay," and the developers are actively working to resolve the issues. While PC users via Steam remained unaffected, many players expressed frustration over the lack of prior warning and the resulting inability to make in-game purchases. Second Dinner has promised further updates. The unforeseen disruption highlights the significant political risks inherent in operating under the umbrella of a company facing such intense regulatory pressure.
