Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls just got hit with a significant character roster leak that has the fighting game community buzzing. An anonymous 4chan user posted a detailed list of over 30 Marvel characters allegedly in various stages of development for Arc System Works’ upcoming 4v4 tag fighter. The leak comes just days before The Game Awards 2025, where many expect to see new character reveals.
According to the leak posted on December 8, 2025, the list represents characters that have entered or passed a development phase as of September 2025. The anonymous leaker claims the compiled list is actually double the size of the roster intended for launch, meaning many of these characters have already been removed from consideration or are still in early concept phases.
What Characters Are in the Leak
The leaked roster includes a mix of A-list heroes, villains, and some unexpected deep cuts from Marvel’s library. Heavy hitters like Wolverine, Venom, The Hulk (specifically Amadeus Cho), Scarlet Witch, and The Thing make the list. Spider-related characters get major representation with Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), Silk, Prowler (Hobie Brown), and Scorpion all mentioned.
What makes this leak particularly interesting is the inclusion of characters that suggest specific narrative or thematic directions. Scarlet Witch is noted as likely being portrayed more as an antagonist rather than a hero. Spider-Woman might be called Arachne instead, with notes indicating a connection to Avengers mythology rather than Spider-Man lore. These details suggest the leaker has some inside knowledge rather than just making educated guesses.
Notable Names from the Leak
Beyond the expected additions, the leak includes several characters that would genuinely surprise fans. Mister Sinister, the X-Men villain, appears on the list. Scientist Supreme (Monica Rappaccini), who was featured in Marvel’s Avengers game, gets a mention. Even Shriek, a relatively obscure Spider-Man villain known for her sonic powers, makes the cut. The Wasp rounds out the classic Avengers representation alongside already-confirmed members.
Mr. Fantastic from the Fantastic Four appears individually despite The Thing also being listed separately. This suggests the Fantastic Four might not all be on the launch roster together, which would be unusual but not unprecedented for Marvel fighting games. The inclusion of Tinkerer is noted as dependent on whether Miles Morales gets added to the roster, hinting at potential story connections between characters.
How Credible Is This Leak
As with any anonymous 4chan leak, skepticism is warranted. The post provides no hard evidence like screenshots, development documents, or insider credentials. Anyone can make a list of popular Marvel characters and claim it came from inside sources. However, several factors lend this leak more credibility than typical speculation.
The specific details about character interpretations, like Scarlet Witch being an antagonist or Spider-Woman potentially using the Arachne name, suggest someone familiar with internal development discussions. The acknowledgment that this list is double the launch roster size and includes scrapped concepts shows awareness of how game development actually works. Most fake leaks claim to know the exact final roster, not a messy development history.
Community Reaction and Analysis
Reddit users in the GamingLeaksAndRumours community had mixed reactions. One top-voted comment pointed out that with 37 characters in the leak plus the 8 already confirmed totaling 45, even with DLC it would take quite a while to reach that many fighters. They expressed doubt that Marvel Tokon would feature that many characters at launch, predicting fewer than 20 fighters in the base game.
Others noted conspicuous absences from the list. The lack of X-23, Daken, or other Wolverine-adjacent characters seemed odd given the game’s theme of Western characters infused with Japanese cultural elements. The absence of characters like Sunfire and Armor, who have strong connections to Japanese culture in Marvel lore, raised eyebrows if this leak is accurate.
What We Actually Know About Marvel Tokon
To understand how this leak fits into the bigger picture, it helps to know what Arc System Works and Sony have officially confirmed. Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls was announced at Sony’s State of Play event in June 2025 with eight characters confirmed: Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Doctor Doom, Storm, Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Star-Lord, and Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes).
Since that initial announcement, no additional characters have been officially revealed despite months passing. This has frustrated fans who expected a steady drip of character announcements leading up to the game’s 2026 release window. Screenshots showing the character select screen suggest approximately 35 character slots might fit on the UI, which aligns somewhat with the scope of this leak if you account for base roster plus planned DLC.
The Game Awards Connection
The timing of this leak is suspicious in the best possible way. The Game Awards 2025 takes place on December 11, 2025, just three days after this leak appeared. Industry insiders and content creators have been speculating that Marvel Tokon will have a major presence at the show with new character reveals and possibly a release date announcement.
Arc System Works and Sony have historically used big gaming events to drop character announcements for fighting games. While Marvel Tokon has primarily appeared at PlayStation-exclusive events so far, The Game Awards represents the biggest platform in gaming right now. It would be the perfect venue to expand awareness beyond the PlayStation ecosystem, especially since the game is also coming to PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
What This Means for the Final Roster
If this leak has any truth to it, the takeaway isn’t that all these characters will be playable. Instead, it gives us a glimpse into Arc System Works’ development process and how many characters were considered at various points. Fighting game development typically involves prototyping dozens of characters, testing their movesets and gameplay viability, then cutting down to a manageable launch roster.
For comparison, Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite launched with 30 characters and added 6 more through DLC. Dragon Ball FighterZ, another Arc System Works title, started with 24 characters and eventually expanded to over 40 through multiple DLC seasons. If Marvel Tokon launches with 20 to 25 characters as many predict, that would be a solid foundation for years of post-launch support.
FAQs
How many characters are officially confirmed for Marvel Tokon?
Eight characters have been officially confirmed: Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Doctor Doom, Storm, Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan), Star-Lord, and Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes). These were revealed at Sony’s State of Play event in June 2025.
When does Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls release?
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is scheduled to launch in 2026 for PlayStation 5 and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store). No specific release date has been announced yet, though many expect clarity at The Game Awards 2025 on December 11.
Is the 4chan leak credible?
There’s no way to verify the leak’s authenticity without official confirmation. The specific details about character interpretations and acknowledgment of cut content suggest possible insider knowledge, but it could also be educated speculation. Treat it as unconfirmed rumor until Arc System Works or Sony make official announcements.
How many characters will be in the launch roster?
Based on character select screen analysis from official screenshots, approximately 35 character slots appear possible. However, community speculation suggests the base game will launch with 20 to 25 characters, with additional fighters added through post-launch DLC over time.
Who is developing Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls?
Arc System Works, the studio behind Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, and Dragon Ball FighterZ, is developing Marvel Tokon in collaboration with Sony Interactive Entertainment and Marvel Games. Sony is publishing the game.
Will Marvel Tokon have X-Men characters?
Storm is confirmed as one of the eight revealed characters. The leak suggests Wolverine may also be included, and community discussion frequently mentions characters like Cyclops and Cable as likely additions given the X-Men’s popularity in fighting games.
What is the gameplay like in Marvel Tokon?
Marvel Tokon features a unique 4v4 tag team system where you start with one fighter and one assist character, then gradually unlock your full four-character lineup by meeting mid-match conditions like damage thresholds and Wall Breaks that transition fights across multiple arenas.
Will there be character reveals at The Game Awards 2025?
Nothing has been officially confirmed, but given the timing and The Game Awards’ prominence as gaming’s biggest showcase event, many industry watchers expect Marvel Tokon to have a presence with new character announcements and possibly a release date.
Conclusion
Whether this leak proves accurate or not, it demonstrates the massive anticipation surrounding Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. Arc System Works has proven their ability to handle beloved properties with Dragon Ball FighterZ, and Marvel’s vast character library provides endless possibilities for creative roster choices. The next few days leading up to The Game Awards should clarify whether any of these leaked characters make the cut or if this was just elaborate fan speculation. Either way, Marvel fighting game fans have plenty to be excited about as we head into 2026.