Marvel Snap has returned and developers wish to switch publishers

On January 19th, a temporary suspension of TikTok's US operations unexpectedly impacted Marvel Snap, the popular card game published by Nuverse (a ByteDance subsidiary). This disruption 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 unforeseen event, and citing political risks associated with TikTok's uncertain future in the US market, developers are exploring a publisher change and internalizing certain services. This proactive measure aims to mitigate future disruptions.

The temporary ban stemmed from TikTok's precarious legal standing in the US, with a 90-day extension granted to finalize a deal selling 50% of its US operations. Failure to secure this agreement could lead to further blockages for TikTok and related projects like Marvel Snap.

Second Dinner Studios, the game's developer, has promised further updates. While many players experienced authorization problems, Steam users retained access. The developers expressed surprise at the situation and are actively working to restore full functionality, assuring players via Platform 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 player frustration, as many continued making in-game purchases unaware of the potential service interruption.