Sony's Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls has had a shaky launch, and a reader argues it's the latest proof of a Marvel video game curse, where even good games fail to sell. The PC version launched with bugs, leading to a flop and negative word-of-mouth that affected the PlayStation 5 version as well.
Sony's Launch Misstep
The reader, Trepsils, expressed confusion over Sony's decision to release the game despite known issues. 'I’m sure they had deadlines to make but if the PC version was so buggy why not just delay it for a few weeks?' they wrote. The launch backfired, with the game performing poorly on PC and the negative buzz impacting the PS5 version.
This pattern of releasing broken games is not new, but the reader notes that even well-made Marvel games often underperform. 'I don’t think it would’ve been a hit whatever happened because, weirdly, Marvel video games don’t sell,' they added.
A History of Marvel Game Flops
Looking back, the reader lists several Marvel titles that failed commercially. Early MCU-era games like Guardians Of The Galaxy: The Telltale Series and Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite flopped, as did Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 and Square Enix's Marvel's Avengers. Even critically praised games like Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy and Marvel's Midnight Suns didn't sell well.
The recent scrolling beat 'em-up Marvel Cosmic Invasion was also ignored. The reader notes, 'It’s not that the games were bad,' but they still failed to attract audiences.
Why Marvel Games Fail
The reader speculates on reasons, from tie-in stigma to a desire for MCU canon. However, they point out that Spider-Man games, which are not MCU-canon, succeed. 'The evidence is very clear: if it’s not a Spidey game or aimed at kids then your game is going down,' they concluded.
This raises questions about upcoming titles like Wolverine, Blade, EA's Iron Man, and Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra. The reader predicts all will flop, regardless of quality. 'The public has spoken and they are not interested in Marvel games… I just wish I understood why,' they said.
