Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls Blocked in 132 Countries
Developer Arc System Works is preparing a massive release for the fighting game Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, but for potential players in over a hundred countries around the world, there's unwelcome news. In early August, the game will be blocked in 132 countries due to a mandatory requirement to link a PlayStation Network (PSN) account — a problem that has already become familiar.
The PSN Account Requirement: History Repeats Itself
The situation with Marvel Tōkon mirrors the earlier conflict with Helldivers 2, when Sony initially insisted on mandatory PSN linking for players on PC. According to SteamDB, the game's Steam page indicates that the title cannot be activated or purchased in a long list of countries. At this point, the PSN requirement mainly concerns online play and access to pre-order bonuses, though details regarding the campaign remain unclear.
The Geography of the Block: From Egypt to the Vatican
The list of blocked regions spans various corners of the world. Among the notable names are Egypt, Latvia, Monaco, the Philippines, and even Vatican City. According to the developers, certain entries are marked as unknown country codes, which may point to some locations that Steam or SteamDB simply don't have in their profiles. Paradoxically, players from these countries can still view the game's Steam page, but the purchase remains unavailable.
Characters and Beta Testing
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls offers 4v4 battle scenes with a diverse roster. At launch, 20 characters have been confirmed, including Storm, Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Captain America. The developers also announced Blade, Loki, and Deadpool during EVO 2026. Beta testing will run from July 24 to 26 on PS5 and PC platforms, giving players a chance to try the fighter before its official release on August 6.
Will the Requirement Be Lifted?
Given that the list of countries strikingly matches the block from Helldivers 2, there is hope this policy will be reversed. Sony has caved to public pressure before, so a reconsideration of its stance before release is possible. The development team has a few days to listen to fan criticism, as the strong fighting-game community traditionally advocates actively for its interests.
Conclusion
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls demonstrates a repetition of the mistakes of Sony's previous PC ports, when the PSN requirement becomes an obstacle for millions of potential players. Although Sony's promise was to expand access to its games, practice shows otherwise. Whether the company will respond to criticism before the launch date remains an open question, but the Helldivers 2 saga gives reason for cautious optimism.
