Marvel Snap, the popular mobile card game, is expected to return to app stores as early as next week, according to its developer, Second Dinner. The game was taken offline last weekend due to its connection to TikTok parent company ByteDance, which faced a US ban. In a recent announcement, Second Dinner stated that it would start the process of restoring Marvel Snap to Google Play on Friday, with a return to both Google and Apple app stores anticipated in the coming days.

The outage occurred when TikTok, along with other apps owned by ByteDance, faced a US ban. Marvel Snap's original publisher, Nuverse, is owned by ByteDance, leading to the game's removal from app stores. However, Second Dinner has since announced plans to "bring more services in-house and partner with a new publisher" to ensure the game's continued availability.

Despite the outage, Marvel Snap returned online for players on Monday, and Second Dinner has taken steps to compensate affected players. An admin of the Marvel Snap Discord server announced a set of compensation packages, including in-game credits, tokens, and special variants for accounts created in the US or showing US activity in the 30 days prior to the outage. Non-US players will also receive a "Global Gratitude Package" with similar, though fewer, benefits.

The situation highlights the complexities of app store policies and the potential consequences of US-China tensions on the tech industry. While President Donald Trump has directed the US Attorney General not to enforce the US TikTok ban, it remains unclear whether Apple or Google can be shielded from legal liability if they host ByteDance-owned apps in defiance of the law. Other apps affected by the outage, such as CapCut and Lemon8, have also returned online but still await reinstatement in the iOS and Android app stores.

The Marvel Snap saga serves as a reminder of the interconnected nature of the tech industry and the potential far-reaching consequences of geopolitical tensions. As the situation continues to unfold, it will be important to monitor the implications for app developers, publishers, and users alike.