The newly released Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is facing significant backlash just days after its highly anticipated launch, with Steam players criticizing the game's requirement to link a PSN account. The controversy has already pushed the game's Steam rating down to "Mixed," with a wave of negative reviews targeting Sony's account requirement and other technical issues.

Arc System Works has been a mainstay of the fighting game genre for nearly three decades, building its reputation through series such as Guilty Gear and BlazBlue. The company has also collaborated on several licensed fighting games, including fan favorites like Persona 4 Arena and Dragon Ball FighterZ. Naturally, excitement was high when Arc System Works announced its collaboration with Sony on Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, featuring some of Marvel's most iconic characters. However, the game's launch has been overshadowed by growing player frustration.

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Players Are Voicing Their Frustration

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls has received a wave of negative Steam reviews, bringing the game's overall rating down to "Mixed." A major point of criticism is the requirement for players to link a PSN account, with the Arc System Works-developed fighter being published by Sony.

Players have also raised concerns about Sony's SDK reportedly running in the background and contributing to performance issues. Several fans have additionally reported that Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls does not run on SteamOS, making it incompatible with devices such as the Steam Deck and Steam Machine.

The PSN requirement is not the only issue drawing criticism. Players have also scrutinized the game's netcode, with some reporting hardware-related lag and poor online performance, including instances of significant desynchronization between players. The game's lack of Linux support has further frustrated some users, as its anti-cheat system prevents it from running through Valve's Proton compatibility layer.

Arc System Works has acknowledged player complaints surrounding the game's performance, although the developer has not addressed the PSN account requirement specifically.

The controversy surrounding Marvel Tokon's PSN requirement is also reminiscent of previous disputes involving Sony. Helldivers 2 faced a major backlash when Sony attempted to enforce a similar account-linking requirement on PC, eventually reversing the decision following widespread criticism. Sony also initially planned to require PSN accounts for the PC version of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, before making the feature optional.

Despite the rocky launch, Arc System Works clearly has ambitious plans for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. The developer has already announced the game's Year 1 Character and Stage Pass, with Phoenix Cyclops confirmed as the first DLC fighter. The pass is also set to introduce three additional characters and a new stage during the game's first year.

For now, players will be hoping that Arc System Works and Sony can address the game's technical issues and the controversy surrounding its account requirements before the game's post-launch content begins rolling out.