A SteamDB update has revealed that Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls will be blocked in 132 countries on PC when it launches on August 6, 2026 – a direct consequence of the game requiring players to sign in to a PlayStation Network account to access multiplayer features.
What’s Causing the Block
Sony has restricted the purchase of Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls in 132 regions because PlayStation Network is officially unavailable in those territories, as the game requires players to link a PSN account to use its crossplay features between PC and console. The Steam page itself confirms it plainly: “Account for PlayStation and internet connection required.”
The storefront block leaves players across Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean unable to purchase the game on Steam. Notably, the reason behind the restrictions has not been officially confirmed, but the list of affected regions has quickly drawn attention to PSN, which is unavailable across the countries where Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is currently blocked.
There is also some confusion over how the restriction is being applied – unlike previous PlayStation releases affected by PSN availability, some players in blocked countries can apparently still access the Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls Steam page and may even be able to purchase the game.
The Helldivers 2 Precedent
This situation closely echoes the Helldivers 2 controversy from May 2024. PlayStation’s PSN requirements on Steam went down like a lead balloon with PC gamers – not only did forcing PSN on players cause the game to drop to Overwhelmingly Negative, but it also resulted in over 170 countries being blocked from purchase.
Sony eventually reversed its decision to mandate PSN account logins for Helldivers 2 PC players after a weekend of intense backlash and review bombing campaigns that extended to other Sony and Arrowhead games. Valve pulled the game in 177 countries and issued a large number of refunds before Sony caved.
According to historical tracking data on SteamDB, the same list of 132 unsupported countries from that controversy is now being applied preemptively to Arc System Works’ new fighter. Unlike Helldivers 2, however, the block appears to be baked in from the start rather than enforced post-launch – giving players in those regions no grace period at all.
About the Game
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is developed by Arc System Works and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, scheduled to release for PlayStation 5 and Windows on August 6, 2026. Featuring characters from Marvel Comics, the game is built around a tag team system that begins matches with a single fighter and an assist character, gradually unlocking a full lineup of four characters by fulfilling mid-match conditions such as damage accumulation and Wall Breaks.
The 4v4 tag-team fighter’s 20-character launch roster includes Storm, Magik, Wolverine, Danger, Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, Star-Lord, Peni Parker, Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther, Hulk, Doctor Doom, Magneto, Green Goblin, Carnage, Ghost Rider, Blade, Deadpool, and Loki. The game’s multiplayer will support full cross-platform play between the PlayStation 5 and Windows versions – which is precisely the feature tying the PSN requirement to the PC release.
The irony for the fighting game community is stark: the apparent restrictions have raised a significant problem for the competitive fighting game scene, with one player noting that Tōkon is expected to be a main-stage game at EVO for the 2027 circuit, yet players in Morocco – one of the countries hosting EVO next year – cannot legally obtain the game.
With the launch now just a month away, Sony and Arc System Works have yet to explain the restrictions or confirm whether the game will become available in the 132 affected countries before release.
Editions Comparison
| Edition | Key Contents |
|---|---|
| Standard | Base game |
| Digital Deluxe | Pre-order bonuses + Year 1 Pass |
| Ultimate | Deluxe + extra colors + 5 costumes |
Where to Buy
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Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is available to pre-order now from [price] for PC via key retailers – check availability for your region before purchasing given the active country restrictions.