The PC gaming community woke up to news that came as a complete shock, especially for those eagerly awaiting the release of the latest game from Marvel. The highly anticipated launch of
This move has caught many by surprise, although there were already precedents that made us fear the worst. It turns out that the game is suffering a Steam regional lock affecting 132 countriespreventing millions of users from even adding it to their wishlist or pre-ordering it. The situation is quite tricky, as the block isn't due to character licensing issues, but rather a technical and commercial decision by Sony that has sparked outrage on social media.
Why can't the game be purchased in so many countries?
The root of the problem is, once again, the infamous mandatory linking to a PlayStation Network account. Sony has made it clear that to enjoy Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls on PC Having a profile on their online service is essential, primarily to support cross-play features. Since PSN's infrastructure isn't officially available worldwide, the Japanese company has opted for a more drastic approach, restricting sales in regions where they can't provide technical support or official moderation.
This is a major setback for players in those regions, as it's not just about distant countries or those with small markets. In the case of our continent, the measure directly affects European nations such as Serbia, Albania, MonacoSan Marino and the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) are among the countries affected. These users find themselves in a bind: Steam does not allow purchases from unauthorized regions, and using a VPN to bypass this restriction results in a permanent ban from Valve's platform.
The impact on the competitive community and the cast of characters
This decision is especially disappointing after the game's success at events like EVO 2026, where we saw teams like the Samurai Outriders in action. This group consists of powerful characters like Ghost Rider, Deadpool, Blade, and LokiThis had sent enthusiasm soaring. However, Sony's strategy of prioritizing its digital ecosystem over universal access puts the player base of a title born with a purely competitive focus at risk.
Unlike what happened with others PS5 single-player game releases on PC Where Sony eventually backed down, here the situation seems more rigid. Since it's an experience focused on online multiplayer, the manufacturer argues that You need the control that PSN offers. to manage infrastructure security. Even so, this leaves out almost all of Africa, much of the Middle East, and several Latin American countries such as Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, inevitably fragmenting the community.
The date marked on the calendar remains August 6, 2026, when the game will arrive on both PlayStation 5 and PC. For those living in supported regions, the price will be around €60, but for everyone else, the only option seems to be waiting for Sony to decide to expand its official network or relax the current requirements. They keep half the world out of the battleWhat is clear is that this mandatory account system has become the new standard for the Japanese brand's PC releases, regardless of the criticism it receives along the way.