Marvel Tokon Hits Nearly 500K Sales in First Week, Igniting Success Debate

In a gaming world where the term “dead game” is thrown around frequently, what really defines success? This question gained traction after Rhys Elliot from Alinea Analytics shared the first-week sales numbers for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls in his latest update. As of August 12, the Marvel fighting game sold 485,000 copies, with 74% of those sales on PlayStation 5 and 26% on Steam. The game has generated $33 million in revenue, according to the analyst.

Elliot suggests that significant PC issues likely hindered sales, estimating that the game could have hit 1 million copies in its first week if the Steam launch had gone more smoothly. The PC version suffers from performance issues, bugs, intrusive DRM, and lacks Linux support. Currently, only 48% of PC players have rated Marvel Tokon positively on Steam, which is an improvement from its initial score of 37%, but still not great.

Many gamers accustomed to higher sales figures view Marvel Tokon’s sub-500,000 sales as disappointing, indicating a weak start. One user on social media expressed concern, stating, “THIS DOESN’T LOOK GOOD,” while another lamented, “Dreadful numbers. Looks like another failed live-service game for PlayStation. Will they ever learn?”

However, the game’s launch could have been more favorable. In addition to the performance issues affecting PC sales, Marvel Tokon is unavailable for purchase in numerous countries, likely due to its PlayStation Network linking requirements. This is particularly frustrating given the genre’s competitive nature on a global scale.

On the flip side, fighting games typically require fewer active players than many other multiplayer genres since they focus on one-on-one matches. In this context, Tokon’s sales figures suggest it could have a lasting presence if it receives proper support and if Arc System Works addresses the performance issues on PC. Many players who were initially skeptical about Tokon’s gameplay have warmed up to it, appreciating its surprising depth and unique take on tag-fighting mechanics. The game has also attracted the second-highest number of registrants for this weekend’s CEO tournament, trailing only behind Street Fighter 6.

Bad PC port, Hulk no like.