BODY: The final day of EVO Japan 2026 ended with a thunderclap on May 3 as Sony Interactive Entertainment unveiled two heavyweight additions to its upcoming fighter MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls: the Incredible Hulk and Black Panther. The reveal landed during one of Asia's loudest fighting game gatherings, packing the Tokyo Big Sight crowd with the kind of cheers usually reserved for grand finals.
A new promotional video accompanied the announcement, showcasing snippets of in-game action and introducing the so-called "Fighting Avengers" team. Hulk's footage leans into raw, ground-shaking power — pillar-snapping grapples, building-sized leaps — while Black Panther's clips emphasize Wakandan agility, vibranium-charged strikes, and the kind of low-to-the-ground rushdown pressure FGC players will instantly recognize as a counterweight to Hulk's brawler kit.
MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is being developed by Arc System Works, the studio behind Guilty Gear Strive and Dragon Ball FighterZ, in collaboration with Marvel Games and SIE. The "Tōkon" (闘魂) in the title — meaning "fighting spirit" — signals the project's pro-wrestling-flavored bravado, and the Arc Sys signature 3D-cel-shaded look is on full display in the new footage.
The Hulk and Black Panther additions bring the publicly revealed roster to a meaningful core, though SIE has yet to confirm a final character count or release date. EVO Japan reveals have historically been a strategic launchpad for Japan-developed fighters aiming at global audiences, and this one fits the playbook neatly.
The insider take
In Tokyo, the smart-money read is that SIE is using EVO Japan — not a Western showcase — as the stage for these reveals because Arc System Works wants the FGC's hardcore Japanese base to validate the game's mechanics first. The "Fighting Avengers" branding also hints at a team-based mode reminiscent of Marvel vs. Capcom, a lineage Japanese players hold in near-religious regard. Expect more reveals timed to TGS 2026 in September.
Originally reported by 4Gamer.net − 最新記事 (Japanese).