Hulk and Black Panther are coming to Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls

Arc System Works and PlayStation Studios revealed the "Fighting Avengers" team for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls at EVO Japan 2026 today, confirming Hulk and Black Panther for the roster.

Producer Takeshi Yamanaka announced the additions on the PlayStation Blog alongside a new gameplay trailer. The game is using the Shuri iteration of Black Panther and the Savage incarnation of Hulk.

Arc System Works takes on Marvel

Tōkon is Sony's attempt to build a first-party fighting game, but the company outsourced the actual combat design to the experts. Arc System Works has basically defined the modern anime fighting game genre over the last decade. After proving they could handle massive licensed properties with Dragon Ball FighterZ, handing them the Marvel universe makes perfect sense. They are building this one in Unreal Engine 5 to push their signature 2.5D art style further than they did in Guilty Gear Strive.

Sony is publishing the title, but it is not a PlayStation exclusive. The game launches August 6, 2026, and it will be available simultaneously on PlayStation 5 and PC through both Steam and the Epic Games Store. It also supports full cross-platform play at launch. That is basically a mandatory requirement for a fighting game to survive in 2026.

A weird approach to 4v4

The combat system is a massive departure from the standard Marvel vs. Capcom formula. It is a 4v4 tag fighter, but matches use a best-of-five round format rather than a single continuous brawl.

You do not start the match with access to your entire team. Players begin with a single point character and one assist. As the match progresses, specifically as players take damage, lose rounds, or trigger stage transitions called Wall Breaks, the rest of the team unlocks.

In most versus games, losing your first character is a devastating blow because you lose access to their assist and your team synergy collapses. Tōkon flips that entirely. The losing player actually gains access to more mechanics, more assists, and active tag options as the match continues. It seems designed specifically to manufacture dramatic comeback moments.

Modern controls are here

Like almost every major fighting game released since Street Fighter 6, Tōkon includes adjustable control schemes. Players can use traditional motion inputs or opt for a quick input system with easy chain combos. The game uses a six-button layout with light, medium, and heavy attacks, alongside dedicated buttons for assists, unique character skills, and quick dashes.