Fans of the popular digital card game Marvel Snap were left in the dark—literally—when the game mysteriously went offline in what many are calling the “TicTok Blackout.”
The unexpected event coincided with a significant technical issue that impacted TicTok, the online platform hosting Marvel Snap and several other games. The blackout left millions of players unable to access their accounts, sparking widespread speculation and frustration across social media.
The outage, which began on Saturday evening, disrupted global gameplay for nearly 12 hours. Players attempting to log into Marvel Snap were greeted with error messages or a blank screen, leading many to fear data loss or account issues.
The developer, Second Dinner, promptly addressed the situation. They took to social media to let fans know that none of the player progress or purchases would disappear.
“We’re aware of the issue affecting Marvel Snap and are working closely with TicTok to resolve it as quickly as possible,” the company stated in a tweet. “Thank you for your patience, and we’ll keep you updated.”
TicTok has yet to release a full statement on the cause of the blackout. Preliminary reports suggest a server overload triggered by a surge in activity.
Some speculate that the spike was due to a major in-game event coinciding with the debut of new Marvel Snap content. This included a limited-edition card pack featuring iconic Marvel characters.
This theory has gained traction among fans, who noted the timing of the outage aligned with the anticipated release.
Players returned to their card battles on Sunday morning when services came back online. As an apology for the inconvenience, Second Dinner announced compensation for affected players. Rewards included in-game currency, boosters, and an exclusive card back—a small gesture from the game studio.
The TicTok blackout serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by online gaming platforms. The quick response from Second Dinner mitigated player frustrations. The incident highlights the growing need for robust infrastructure to support the ever-expanding world of online games like Marvel Snap.
