Sony's forthcoming fighting game, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, will be inaccessible to players in 132 countries on PC, primarily due to the publisher's PlayStation Network (PSN) linking policies. Steam metadata indicates that the game will not be available for purchase in a vast number of regions, including most of Africa and Southwest Asia. This decision follows a pattern of controversy surrounding Sony's approach to PSN integration for its PC releases.
PSN Policy Repercussions
The issue is closely tied to Sony's recent, and controversial, PlayStation Network linking policy for PC games. A similar situation occurred earlier this year when Helldivers 2 initially required players to link their Steam accounts to a PSN profile. This policy was temporarily disabled due to technical issues, but its existence highlighted the problem that PSN is unavailable in many countries, potentially locking players out of games they had already purchased. Following significant player backlash, Sony eventually made the PSN requirement for Helldivers 2 optional.
Despite hopes that Sony would move away from strict PSN linking for PC titles, recent moves suggest otherwise. For titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarök, and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, PSN linking was made optional. However, the unavailability of Marvel Tōkon in a large number of countries indicates that the publisher is maintaining its stance on PSN integration for certain titles.
Global Competition Concerns
This limitation has sparked considerable dismay among players and industry observers, particularly within the fighting game community. Fighting games are inherently global in nature, with top players frequently hailing from diverse international backgrounds. The exclusion of major regions from accessing Marvel Tōkon raises concerns about the future accessibility and inclusivity of competitive gaming.
Notable fighting game champions, such as Arslan Ash from Pakistan, MenaRD from the Dominican Republic, Verix from Senegal, and BlueSkyGuyBSG from Haiti, represent countries where Marvel Tōkon will not be available. The upcoming Evo Morocco tournament, which would typically feature a game like Marvel Tōkon, is now in an uncertain position given the game's inaccessibility in the host country.
The decision to restrict access to a title that relies on a global player base and competitive scene is seen by many as counterproductive. With an August 3 release date approaching, the arbitrary limitation of the potential player pool for Marvel Tōkon has left a negative impression on a significant portion of the gaming community.