A New Era of Marvel Combat Action Figures Emerges
In a significant shift from the traditional Marvel vs. Capcom series, a new 2.5D fighting game titled **Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls** has been developed by Arc System Works. This game marks a departure from Capcom's long-standing development of the Marvel fighting genre.
## A Fresh Take on Marvel Fighting Games
**Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls** promises to bring a fresh take to the Marvel fighting genre. The game features a unique 4v4 tag-team system, allowing for strategic team management and frequent character switching, offering a new layer of depth in Marvel fighting games. Each character has Normal, Special, and Unique attacks, along with a cinematic Ultimate Skill inspired by their comic book abilities.
The game includes a diverse cast of Marvel characters such as Captain America, Doctor Doom, Ghost Rider, Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, Spider-Man, Star-Lord, and Storm. The stages are inspired by various Marvel locations and include dynamic transitions similar to those in Guilty Gear Strive. The game supports full cross-platform play between PlayStation 5 and Windows.
## Innovations in Gameplay
One of the key innovations in **Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls** is its 4v4 tag-team system. This system allows for strategic team management and frequent character switching, offering a new layer of depth in Marvel fighting games. There is also speculation about a final boss, reportedly known as "The Champion," although details are still emerging.
## A New Line of Figures Inspired by Classic Capcom Marvel Games
In toy news, Hasbro is planning a series of Marvel Legends figures inspired by Capcom's Marvel fighting games. Bandai has announced a "Gamerverse" line of figures in the S.H. Figuarts range, also inspired by the classic Capcom Marvel games. The first figure in the "Gamerverse" line is a Cyclops figure, due out in November for ¥9,900 ($68).
This Cyclops figure is a celebration of Cyclops as he appeared in those classic fighting games. It can perform poses from the early games, including the Optic Blast pose, Gene Splice uppercut, and Mega Optic Blast hyper combo. The figure can also do a little x-hand pose before firing. This is Bandai's first crack at comics-inspired X-Men figures in the Figuarts line, though they have had a few mutant entries via movie adaptations.
## The Future of Marvel Fighting Games
The release of **Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls** comes in the wake of the disappointing release of Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite in 2017. The MvC series had spent nearly a decade with disappointment for the latest title. However, with Arc System Works at the helm, there is hope for a revitalised Marvel fighting game experience. The game is set to release in 2026.
Despite the shift in video game development, the legacy of the classic Marvel/Capcom games remains on toy shelves, with the new line of figures continuing to be inspired by these classic games. The development of **Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls** indicates a shift in the development of Marvel fighting games away from Capcom, but the excitement surrounding this new game suggests that the future of Marvel fighting games is in good hands.
- Gizmodo has reported that the upcoming game Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, developed by Arc System Works, could spark a new era for Marvel fighting games, promising a fresh take with a unique 4v4 tag-team system.
- In a departure from traditional Marvel fighting games, io9 notes that Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls features a diverse cast of Marvel characters and dynamic stages, all inspired by various Marvel locations.
- In addition to the game, a new line of figures is set to be released by Hasbro and Bandai, inspired by Capcom's Marvel fighting games. These include a Cyclops figure modeled after its appearance in the classic games.
- As Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls prepares for its 2026 release, toy news sites like Gizmodo and io9 speculate about the future of Marvel fighting games, anticipating a revitalized experience under Arc System Works while still recognizing the enduring legacy of the classic Marvel/Capcom games.
