As part of San Diego Comic Con, Arc System Works and Sony Interactive Entertainment gave some exciting new updates on the upcoming fighting game Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. The biggest news? We got confirmation of the game’s first DLC character, which will be available in fall 2026. It’s Phoenix Cyclops.
This spin on Cyclops is from a comic in which the Phoenix Force (which more famously possesses Jean Grey) is split into pieces by Iron Man, one of which inhabits this optic-blasting X-Men. After this, he and the rest of the Phoenix Five more or less become villains.
“Unleash devastating Optic Blasts, relentless close-range pressure, and the cosmic flames of the Phoenix Force. Scott Summers brings the heat to [Marvel Tokon]: Fighting Souls this Fall!” the X post announcing the character reads.
Additionally, we got a peek at the game’s intro movie, and its anime-opening-style flair did not disappoint. It was animated by Sanzigen Studio (BanG Dream!, Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers), and its theme song, “Stronger As One,” will be released on music platforms today.
Some major story details were provided as well. Marvel Tokon‘s main antagonist will be the Champion of the Universe (aka Tryco Slatterus), a relatively obscure character. In this incarnation, the Champion is obsessed with mastering “every fighting style across the cosmos.” The single-player mode will follow five captains (the leaders of the game’s pre-built four-character groups) trying to build a team to defeat the Champion of the Universe.
Lastly, we also got news that there will be crossover skins between Insomniac’s Wolverine game and Tokon, with the fighting game receiving Wolverine’s Battle Reborn suit.
The information was revealed at the “Behind the Battle” panel at SDCC, which was moderated by fighting game commentator and streamer Sajam in conversation with game producer Takeshi Yamanaka (Arc System Works), localization director Amber Seitz (Arc System Works), and senior product development manager Michael Francisco (Marvel Games).
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is a collaboration between Arc System Works (Guilty Gear, Dragon Ball FighterZ, BlazBlue), Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Marvel Games. The fighting game was announced during a Sony State of Play showcase last June, and will be released on Aug. 6 for PlayStation 5 and Windows PC. This weekend, the game is getting an open beta across both systems that will feature 16 of its 20 characters, casual and ranked matches, training mode, local versus, lobbies, a tutorial, and the first three chapters of the game’s story mode.
As for where it fits into the genre, Marvel Tokon is a four-versus-four tag fighter. At the start of each match, players only have two out of their team’s four characters unlocked. They can get the rest by fulfilling certain conditions, like breaking a wall or losing a round. Another unique element compared to other tag fighting games, like the beloved Marvel vs. Capcom series, is that characters on your team share a single health bar. That means you can play a single superhero (or villain) without switching to the others mid-fight. Of course, players may want to change their point character to deal with a disadvantageous matchup, or to mix up their opponent.
Based on Marvel Tokon’s previous early-access play sessions, it incorporates elements from Arc System Works’ previous games. It has mechanics from Guilty Gear Strive, like a wall break system. It also has several of Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising’s features aimed at beginners, such as autocombos. While some early-access players were dissatisfied with how restrictive the game felt in previous tests, Arc System Works announced system adjustments based on feedback from the closed betas.
However, the biggest controversy around the game is that it is unplayable in dozens of countries, with limited availability in countries that can’t currently sign up for the PlayStation Network. We’ll see how those who can play the game feel about it after this weekend’s open beta, which begins at 3 a.m. EDT on July 24 and runs until 2:59 a.m. EDT on July 26 for PlayStation 5 and Windows PC.