One of the most anticipated releases of the year, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, launched on PC and PS5 on August 6, 2026, under the Arc System Works banner. Combining comic book aesthetics with fighting game mechanics, the title offers a wide roster of characters including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Storm, Magneto, Carnage, Ghost Rider, Ms. Marvel, Iron Man, and Deadpool. The game, which generated great excitement with its announcement alone, is spending its early days on PC amid controversies that overshadow that excitement. As the 'Mixed' overall rating label appeared on Steam in no time, player complaints are grouped under three main headings: the PSN requirement, Linux/anti-cheat barriers, and performance issues.
First Picture on Steam: 44% of Reviews Are Positive
Looking at initial user reviews, the picture is hardly encouraging. As of the time this article was prepared, only 44% of the 2,561 reviews on Steam are positive. This rate is read as a reflection of backlash against publishing and access policies rather than the game itself, as the majority of the most popular negative reviews target technical infrastructure and corporate policies rather than gameplay mechanics. In particular, the mandatory PlayStation Network account, the lack of Linux support, and issues related to Easy Anti-Cheat are among the most frequently cited complaints.
This is hardly surprising given the sensitivities of the fighting game community. Competitive experience in the genre depends on low latency and a stable frame rate. When a player is excluded from the game simply because of platform preference or regional access restrictions, the community's reaction quickly grows. The prominent complaint headings on Steam are as follows:
- Requirement to create and link a PSN account
- No official support for Linux and Steam Deck
- Anti-cheat software's Proton compatibility not enabled
- Low frame rate and display issues in the settings screen
The PSN Requirement and Access Restriction Controversy
The biggest controversy surrounding Marvel Tokon is the mandatory PlayStation Network account in the PC version. This requirement had come up weeks before the game's release; in early July, news began circulating that the game would be inaccessible in more than 100 countries on Steam. Players, recalling that Sony had attempted a similar step with Helldivers 2 on PC and backtracked after massive backlash, say that such flexibility has not been shown this time.
Many users state that they cannot play with friends in other countries. Comments like 'Sony has made the game unplayable in more than 100 countries' stand out. Additionally, Linux and Steam Deck users argue that although Easy Anti-Cheat can work with Proton, developers have not enabled this support. Players, noting that games like Marvel Rivals run the same anti-cheat system flawlessly with Proton, view this choice as 'not a technical necessity but a deliberate neglect.'
Performance and Netcode Complaints: '45 FPS Is Embarrassing'
Performance issues are drawing just as much attention as the PSN controversy. While some players complain about low frame rates, users whose PCs run Tekken and Street Fighter smoothly are experiencing stuttering in Marvel Tokon, which is causing confusion. One user sums it up: '45 FPS is embarrassing for a fighting game.' There are also many comments about graphics settings not displaying properly on screen, rollback spikes in online matches, and netcode falling short of expectations.
A review stating 'the PC version plays terribly' notes that even the settings screen opens with errors. Such technical glitches are hard-to-forgive flaws in a genre requiring high precision like fighting games, because frame rate fluctuations and increased latency in online competition can directly determine a match's outcome.
The Focus of Criticism Is Not the Game, But Publishing Policy
A striking detail is that most negative reviews do not criticize the game itself. Even in the most-liked reviews on Steam, the phrase 'Arc System Works has made a great game' is repeated. While players praise the combat mechanics, character designs, and visual style, they direct their main anger at Sony's PC policies. Some users explicitly say they will change their reviews to positive if the PSN requirement is removed. This shows a divergence between the game's quality and the disappointment created by the distribution process.
The comment 'the game is very fun, but Sony is ruining everything' is quite common in the community. This sentiment, especially in a title published by PlayStation, causes players to attribute the entire negative experience to a single entity. The development studio, meanwhile, is exempted from most criticism.
First Statement from Arc System Works: Issues Under Investigation
Following the controversy, the studio released a brief statement on its social media account. The statement says they are aware that some PC players are experiencing performance issues and that the team is actively investigating these reports. Players are urged to continue providing feedback. However, no clear information is given on whether the PSN requirement will be removed, whether Linux support will arrive, or when performance patches will be released.
This statement is deemed insufficient by part of the community, while others interpret it as 'at least they are aware of the situation.' The steps taken in the coming days will likely determine whether the game's overall rating on Steam recovers. For fighting game fans, the key thing is for both offline and online experiences to become stable. Those who trust Arc System Works' track record believe the issues can be resolved; however, whether publisher-driven policies like PSN will change may be beyond the studio's control.
Marvel Tokon's first weekend has revealed both tremendous potential and systemic issues overshadowing that potential. While the game's underlying quality seems unquestionable, PC players' expectations are not just a good fighting game but also fair access across platforms and a smooth technical experience. If these demands are not met, it would not be surprising for the 'Mixed' label to remain on the Steam page for a while longer.
