Marvel Snap Plans to Find New Publisher After ByteDance-Related Disruption

Popular digital trading card game Marvel Snap is back up and accessible once again in the U.S. after being temporarily taken offline due to its association with ByteDance, the owner of its publisher, Nuverse.

The game was impacted alongside TikTok, which was briefly banned on January 18 over national security concerns.

Marvel Snap developer Second Dinner formally announced the game’s return on January 21, calling it “the start of a new era for Marvel Snap.”

In a statement shared on X, the studio revealed plans to change publishers to avoid similar disruptions in the future.

MARVEL SNAP is back online in the U.S. But to make sure this NEVER happens again, we’re working to bring more services in-house and partner with a new publisher. This is the start of a new era for MARVEL SNAP.

We know this probably leaves you with even more questions than…

— Second Dinner (@seconddinner) January 21, 2025

Meanwhile, TikTok’s service was restored after roughly 12 hours offline, but the platform remains absent from major app stores as of writing. 

Similarly, Marvel Snap is still unavailable on the App Store and Google Play, but its listing remains live on Steam.

These events underscore the implications of regulatory scrutiny in the U.S., where concerns over national security can ripple beyond primary targets to disrupt industries and partnerships.

As companies like Second Dinner pivot to safeguard their operations, it highlights the importance of businesses having proactive strategies that will enable them to minimize the impact of major disruptions.

These strategies include diversifying partnerships, establishing contingency plans, and staying ahead of regulatory challenges to be prepared for the complexities that global tech geopolitics may bring.

Behind the Brief Ban

Marvel Snap's temporary shutdown came about due to the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

While TikTok’s ban was lifted after an executive order from President Donald Trump, delaying enforcement of the act for 75 days, the risk of further complications remains for ByteDance-owned properties.

These include the video editing platform CapCut, which also became unavailable to U.S. users during the shortlived ban on ByteDance platforms.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by CapCut (@capcutapp)

Marvel Snap first launched in 2022 and features fast-paced card battles with iconic Marvel superheroes and villains like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Thor.

Despite the recent challenges, the developer’s proactive measures hope to reassure its growing fanbase and maintain the game’s popularity within the U.S. market.

TikTok's ban was lifted only after President Trump swore to find a long-term solution to the platform's alleged threat to national security.