Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls announced and the future of Marvel vs. Capcom

In June 2025, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls was announced, a new fighting game developed by Arc System Works and published by Sony. The reveal sparked plenty of excitement across the fighting game community, especially given the long silence around the Marvel vs. Capcom series, which has lasted more than a decade. Marvel Tōkon is an anime-style fighter where iconic Marvel characters such as Star-Lord and Peni Parker clash in tag-team combat.

The absence of Marvel vs. Capcom

The Marvel vs. Capcom series has always been a major player in the fighting game community, but since the release of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite in 2017, things have been quiet. The game struggled to meet sales expectations, moving around one million copies when the target was two million. That shortfall was largely blamed on Disney’s influence, which pushed the game to focus on Marvel Cinematic Universe characters, leaving out iconic X-Men fighters like Wolverine and Storm.

In recent years, fans have pinned their hopes on a comeback for the franchise, mainly through grassroots tournaments and fan-made mods, but the announcement of Marvel Tōkon may be turning that conversation in a new direction. It seems Marvel has chosen a new path for its fighting games, one that leaves fans both anxious and excited.

What is Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls?

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is an exciting new addition to the fighting game scene, promising a different experience from its predecessors. The game is built on a foundation that resembles the mechanics of Granblue Versus, while still keeping the tag-team elements fighting game fans know and love. Although it shares plenty of DNA with the Marvel vs. Capcom franchise, its playstyle is notably different.

It’s worth noting that Tōkon takes a different approach from traditional Marvel vs. Capcom games, with a single health bar shared across both characters on a team, regardless of who is currently active. That could create a fresh dynamic, but it also raises questions about accessibility and competitive depth.

Skepticism and hope for the future

The announcement of Tōkon has drawn mixed reactions within the fighting game community. Many fans are thrilled to see Marvel characters return in a new fighter, while others worry it could further jeopardize the future of Marvel vs. Capcom. There’s concern that Tōkon may take away the last remaining hope for a new Marvel vs. Capcom game. With the game announced as a PlayStation 5 and PC exclusive, some are also questioning whether it can attract enough players to strengthen the community.

Even so, there’s also a sense of anticipation and optimism. Fans are wondering whether Tōkon, if it performs well, could prove there is still a strong market for Marvel fighting games, potentially increasing the chances of a Marvel vs. Capcom revival. Success for Tōkon could convince Disney to embrace the franchise again rather than shelving it for good.

The coming months will be crucial for the fighting game community, especially with Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls set to launch on August 6, 2026 for PC and PlayStation 5. While the future of Marvel vs. Capcom remains uncertain, Marvel Tōkon looks like a chance to breathe new life into Marvel fighting games, despite concerns from longtime fans of the old series.