The Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls Open beta is here and I wish I had my fight stick ready for it
If your weekend plans did not involve mashing buttons as iconic superheroes, you might want to clear your schedule. The open beta for Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is officially live on PC and PlayStation 5, giving fighting game enthusiasts and comic nerds a free weekend to throw down before the full release on August 6, 2026.
Developer Arc System Works and PlayStation opened up the servers from July 24 through July 26, and they even threw in a last-minute surprise. While the beta was originally slated to feature a solid 15-character lineup, the devs decided to add Green Goblin to the playable roster at the last second.
That brings the beta count up to 16 playable fighters, giving everyone a chance to test out heavy hitters like Iron Man, Magneto, Blade, and Spider-Man.
The Phoenix Five Are Invading the DLC Roster
As if dropping an open beta was not enough to set the internet on fire, Arc System Works also took the stage at San Diego Comic-Con to reveal their first post-launch fighter for Year 1. Phoenix Cyclops is officially joining the roster this fall.
This is not just Scott Summers in his classic blue-and-yellow spandex. This version draws heavy inspiration from the famous Avengers vs. X-Men storyline, where Cyclops inherited a chunk of the Phoenix Force as part of the Phoenix Five. Expect laser blasts wrapped in cosmic, fiery chaos.
On top of that, the devs revealed a sweet crossover collaboration with Insomniac Games, offering a free “Wolverine Battle Reborn” costume inspired by the upcoming PS5 game.
What You Can Actually Do in the Beta This Weekend
If you are jumping into the open beta right now, there is plenty of content to chew on beyond basic online matchmaking:
- Training and Tutorials: A full Startup Battle Tutorial mode is available to help you learn the mechanics before taking your team online.
- Story Teasers: You get access to the first three chapters of the narrative Episode Mode, starting with Spider-Man assembling his squad.
- A Beefy Roster: Sixteen total characters across six distinct stages, giving a real taste of the 4v4 tag-team madness.
Best of all, you do not even need a PlayStation Plus subscription to jump into the PS5 beta, though PC players will still need a PlayStation account linked to get in on the action.
Arc System Works has an incredible track record with gorgeous, fast-paced anime fighters like Guilty Gear Strive and Dragon Ball FighterZ. Giving that signature visual flair to the Marvel universe feels like a match made in gaming heaven.
The beta ends July 26, so go get your combos in while the servers are open.
