Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls has reportedly sold 485,000 copies in its first week, a figure that has quickly become a focal point for debate regarding its commercial performance. According to analyst Rhys Elliot of Alinea Analytics, these sales generated $33 million in revenue, with 74% of units sold on PlayStation 5 and 26% on Steam as of August 12.
These numbers have drawn mixed reactions online. Some observers have expressed disappointment, viewing sales below half a million units as a weak start, particularly for a live-service title. Comments on social media ranged from exclamations of alarm to predictions of the game becoming another failed live-service title for PlayStation.
However, the analysis suggests that PC performance issues may have significantly hampered the game's potential. Elliot speculates that Marvel Tokon could have reached one million sales in its debut week had the Steam launch been more stable. The PC version has been plagued by performance problems, bugs, intrusive DRM, and a lack of Linux support, contributing to a poor reception on Steam where only 48% of PC users have left positive reviews. This score has seen a slight improvement from its initial 37% launch rating.
Further complicating sales figures is the game's unavailability in numerous countries, a restriction attributed to its PlayStation Network linking requirements. This is seen as a particular drawback for a genre known for its international competitive scene.
Despite these challenges, the nature of fighting games, which typically require fewer active players than other multiplayer genres due to their one-versus-one format, suggests that Marvel Tokon could maintain a healthy player base if issues are addressed. Players who were initially hesitant about the core gameplay have reportedly come to appreciate its depth and unique approach to tag-fighting mechanics. This is further evidenced by the game securing the second-highest number of registrants for the upcoming CEO tournament, trailing only Street Fighter 6.