MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Redefines Tag-Team Battles on PS5

The text below was published on the PlayStation.Blog.

First revealed during the State of Play and recently playable at Evo Las Vegas 2025, MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls introduces a fundamental shift to the tag-team fighting genre. Arc System Works, Marvel Games, and PlayStation Studios joined forces to create a vibrant stylized world, and after an intense 30-minute session last weekend, I’m counting the days until I become a Tōkon fighter again.

Building a 4v4 Team

“We chose 4v4 because it’s never been done before in fighting games where players can hot-swap characters,” explains Kazuto Sekine, Game Director and Battle Designer at Arc System Works. “We wanted to challenge ourselves to create a new team-based fighter.”

During my session, I had access to an all-star lineup of heroes to build my four-person squad:

● Doctor Doom is slow but packs heavy magic and long-range attacks. 

● Ms. Marvel is swift with high-risk, high-reward moves.

● Storm dominates airspace with deadly cross-ups. 

● Iron Man locks down opponents with anti-air moves and punishing counters. 

● Star-Lord was the most technical, switching between gunplay and crazy juggles.

● Captain America offers versatile fundamentals and serves as a great entry point for newcomers.

After testing, I prioritized Storm and Star-Lord. I loved how their combos, personalities, and style stayed true to their characters (at one point, Storm sternly calls Star-Lord “Quill” when joking – perfection). Storm’s light/medium attacks are beginner-friendly and chain smoothly into her Quick Ability (triggered by R2). Star-Lord also clicked when I chained blaster-into-melee combos straight into his Super Ability (activated via R1).

The control scheme is straightforward: Square, Triangle, and Circle execute light/medium/heavy attacks, while X activates Assists. Special moves and abilities map entirely to triggers: L1 dashes, L2 calls assists, while R1/R2 deploy Super and Quick Abilities.

How Character Swapping Works

Traditional tag-team bouts require cycling through your roster before K.O., but Tōkon shares one health bar across your squad. This means mastering the entire roster isn’t necessary – treat it like a standard fighter if preferred. Initially, you only control your lead character, gaining the ability to swap after losing a round, landing throws, or knocking foes to another stage section. This creates tactical tension: avoid giving opponents openings to summon their backups while ensuring you access your reserves first.

“Earlier team fighters required controlling multiple characters,” Sekine notes. “Here, we designed it so you only need to master one. You enjoy the full experience while teammates dynamically join the fray.”

Swapping happens during assists: once triggered, a brief window lets you switch fighters. These transitions create stylish character moments mid-chaos. Tōkon dynamically responds to on-screen action, generating unique animations during combos, landings, or aerial swaps – like teammates high-fiving or riffing about needing backup.

Accommodating Player Playstyles

While I focused on studying opponents, my rival prioritized Supers for frequent full-screen spectacles – rapid combos launching foes skyward before an anime-style superhero pose barrage. Our methodical vs. manic approaches created thrilling back-and-forth battles, with the game rewarding both styles.

“Designing accessibility with depth was crucial,” Sekine emphasizes. “We avoided mechanics new players couldn’t execute – that would harm their experience.” 

“Pressing Assist triggers context-specific actions by your partner during gameplay,” Sekine explains. “This clearly communicates optimal timing, streamlining execution.”

Anime-Inspired Heroes in Action

“At Marvel Games, letting developers imprint their vision is essential,” states Michael Francisco, Senior Product Development Manager. “For Arc System Works, that fusion means blending American comics with Japanese anime/manga – reflected in the vibrant art and character designs.” 

Characters ooze personality, while stages brim with details: eagle-eyed fans should watch for hero/reference billboards, citizens reacting to fights, and abundant easter eggs. This world radiates craftsmanship.

“Visual excitement was paramount for a tag fighter,” says Takeshi Yamanaka, Producer at Arc System Works. “With 4v4 battles putting eight characters on-screen simultaneously, careful visual composition was vital to maintain clarity amid the spectacle.

4v4 Battles Begin Next Year

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls launches in 2026. When asked how creating this genre-first collaboration feels, the team shared:

“It’s terrifying, thrilling, electrifying – and frightening,” admits Francisco. “We aim to honor Marvel’s legacy while blazing our own trail. Fans should anticipate our unprecedented three-way synergy.”