Arc System Works is doing what Capcom won't. Out of the blue, during an exciting Sony State of Play showcase, the Japanese studio unveiled their latest project: a Marvel tag fighter called Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. It might not be Marvel vs Capcom, but it is exactly the type of game the fighting game community is craving and could prove to be a worthy spiritual sequel to one of the most beloved fighting game IPs.
The story of Marvel fighters is and forever will be intertwined with Capcom. Everyone who reacted live to the Tokon reveal had the same thought process: "Is this a new Marvel vs Capcom!?" before quickly realizing that it was in fact, not. Still, all things considered, Arc Sys tackling the Marvel IP could be exactly what we needed to see it thrive even more.
2018's Dragon Ball FighterZ put Arc System Works on the map in a big way. They were a studio already known among fighting game enthusiasts for its top-of-the-line art style and flashy gameplay mechanics that made Guilty Gear Xrd, BlazBlue: Central Fiction, and Persona 4 Arena iconic staples of the FGC.
If you're not familiar with their game, rest assured that Arc Sys is more than capable of bringing that hectic, fast-paced nature the original Marvel vs Capcom series was known for. The glimpses of gameplay shown already look extremely promising: launchers, air dashes, active tag (I personally don't mind it), and of course the big selling point: it'll be a 4v4 tag fighter.
Now, don't be intimated, the gameplay and hints from the developers did suggest juggling so many characters will be streamlined with a unique system Arc Sys crafted that very much looks like it will be a shared health bar among your team. This will allow you to stick with your point character if you don't feel comfortable switching to others, keeping them as assists throughout a match.
Arc Sys picking up the Marvel mantle, so to speak, is almost poetic. Months before DBFZ saw the light of day, a dire Capcom barely managed to push Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite out the door in 2017. While it developed a cult following (the base gameplay is indeed very fun) over the years, the game was rightly panned for its lukewarm roster amid contractual battles that forced the studio to scrap fan-favorite characters like the X-Men or Fantastic Four, horrendous visual style, and a general lack of both polish and content.
It was a catastrophic fumble if we consider the context: it was released during peak Marvel Cinematic Universe popularity, just seven months before Avengers: Infinity War became a global phenomenon.
click to enlargeCapcom has found stability and massive success in the coming years and a Marvel vs Capcom 4 could still very much happen, although let's keep it real: if it looked hard before, it's now close to impossible. The dev update video for Marvel Tokon made one thing clear: it was PlayStation's idea to pair Arc System Works and Marvel Games. Lucky for them, both parties were heavily interested.
I don't necessarily believe Capcom is too bothered by this, beyond their pride stinging a little. They're full steam ahead with Street Fighter season 3. The game just released on Nintendo Switch 2, which is expected to massively boost its popularity, especially if we take into consideration that early reports suggest its performance matches that of the PlayStation 5 on optimal settings. Furthermore, Elena, their latest character just released, with the season 3 DLC expected to be unveiled during Summer Game Fast (just like last year)
They're also very much focused on rebuilding their relationship with SNK. Both Mai and Terry became the first third-party guests in Street Fighter history. On SNK's front, Ken Masters and Chun-Li are set to be a part of City of the Wolves during season 1. That's not even mentioning that Capcom Fighting Collection 2, which released this past May, included both Capcom vs SNK titles.
Of course, Marvel vs Capcom being "free" from the digital hellhole the franchise was on for decades with the MvC Collection sparked hope that MvC4 was on the horizon. Now, it appears more as a gesture of goodwill, almost like an attempt to heal the wounds a former ex left, and is about making amends for both parties. Forgive and forget, but getting back together? Maybe in another life.
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