Why Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls Has a 'Mixed' Rating on Steam at Launch

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, the 4v4 tag-team fighter developed by Arc System Works and published by Sony, arrived on Steam and the Epic Games Store on August 6, 2026. Within hours, the PC port accumulated thousands of user reviews, landing at a "Mixed" rating with only about 43-44% of reviews being positive . The criticism is not aimed at the core fighting mechanics — console players on PS5 report a smooth experience . Instead, the backlash is focused on three distinct issues that, for many players, make the PC version frustrating or unplayable.

1. Persistent Performance Problems: Micro-Stuttering and Slow-Motion Gameplay

The most widespread complaint is that the PC port suffers from persistent micro-stuttering and, in many cases, runs in a "slow-motion" pace that breaks the rhythm of combat. This occurs regardless of the player's hardware tier . One Steam user described the CPU utilization as "straight up bonkers," noting that even after the tutorial, the game demands far more processing power than expected for a fighting game . The PS5 version runs smoothly in comparison, leading to criticism that the PC port was not adequately optimized .

These performance problems were already flagged by players during the open beta. Arc System Works promised a day-one patch to address them, but upon launch, users reported that the patch did not resolve the core issues .

2. Linux and Steam Deck Block: Easy Anti-Cheat Refuses to Launch

The game ships with kernel-level Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC). While EAC is common in multiplayer PC games, in this case it is configured to completely block the game from launching on SteamOS, Steam Deck, or any Linux distribution . The Steam store page lists only Windows compatibility, and many Linux and Steam Deck users report being unable to start the game at all . One Steam user commented that the developer "decided to stoop low to straight up block any Linux player from even LAUNCHING the game" .

This is a significant problem for the Steam Deck community, as the device runs SteamOS (a Linux-based operating system) by default. Players who purchased the game expecting to use it on the Deck found it completely inaccessible out of the box.

3. Mandatory PlayStation Network Login: Players in 132 Countries Locked Out

The PC version requires a mandatory PlayStation Network (PSN) account to access online features, including lobbies, ranked matches, casual matches, and player profiles . Sony does not operate PSN in approximately 132 countries, meaning players who purchased the game in those regions cannot access any online functionality .

This requirement echoes the same controversy that erupted around Helldivers 2 in 2024, where Sony's mandatory PSN login caused a massive backlash and eventual policy reversal . Many players have criticized Sony for not disclosing this restriction clearly before purchase, as the game can be bought in affected regions but the online features remain inaccessible . Notably, the single-player content (story mode, arcade mode, local multiplayer) works without a PSN account, making the online-only lockout feel particularly inconsistent .

Developer Response

Arc System Works has acknowledged the complaints regarding performance issues and has stated it is investigating fixes. However, as of launch week, no comprehensive patch addressing all three major issues had been issued .