It's a moment of pure suspense: the claw is descending toward that coveted prize in the toy crane machine. Then, suddenly, the lights flicker and everything goes dark and silent. What happens if the power goes out at that exact moment?

First, don't panic. Modern crane machines are designed with basic fail-safes. The claw mechanism typically uses low-voltage DC power, and when main power is cut, it simply stops in its last position. It will not suddenly drop the prize or retract erratically. The prize will likely remain suspended in the claw or fall back into the pile, depending on when the outage occurred.

The immediate result is that your game session is interrupted and effectively lost. The machine's computer resets when power returns. You will not get a refund or continuation of that turn automatically; the game treats it as a completed, albeit unsuccessful, attempt.

So, is your prize gone forever? Not necessarily. If the claw was carrying a prize and it's now visibly stuck in the mechanism or in an unreachable position, you have a case. Politely inform the arcade attendant or location manager. Reputable operators have keys to open the machine and will often manually retrieve a legitimately won but stuck prize as a goodwill gesture. Take a clear photo of the stuck item if possible.

For home toy crane machines, the situation is simpler. Once power is restored, the machine will reboot. Any credits or progress are usually lost, but you can simply start a new game. There's no risk of electrical shock from the toy itself, as it runs on a safe, low-voltage adapter.

In summary, a power outage freezes the game, likely costing you that play. While frustrating, it's generally safe. Your best course of action is to calmly seek staff assistance if a prize seems won but trapped, as most are happy to help resolve the situation.