By Jon Scarr
PlayStation and Arc System Works announced a huge roster expansion for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls at EVO Japan 2026 in Tokyo, confirming that Hulk and Shuri's Black Panther are joining the roster. The big character reveal comes at a critical time, as development is entering its final stages ahead of launch.
This update locks down a playable lineup of 13 fighters and five separate stages for the next build, giving fighting game fans a clear look at how the final product is shaping up.
You won't have to wait very long to test out these roster additions yourself. Arc System Works is bringing this updated layout to Combo Breaker 2026 in Chicago on May 22, followed by a major appearance at Hong Kong Comic Con on May 29.
Fighting Avengers Bring Heavy Attacks And High Mobility
The update introduces a new four-fighter squad named the Fighting Avengers, uniting the newcomers with the previously revealed Captain America and Iron Man. If you played as Cap or Iron Man during the last beta, you know how they control the screen, but adding a true heavyweight shifts your strategy completely. Hulk's voiced by Fred Tatasciore, acting as a power brawler who changes the pace of a match with heavy one-shot attacks.
His central tool is a dedicated Gamma Gauge that you fill by staying on the offensive. Once you max out the meter, you trigger a Gamma Rage state that increases your movement speed and your overall damage output. He's even wearing custom dinosaur bone armour from his comic lore exile to the Savage Land by S.H.I.E.L.D. and the government.
On the other side of the coin, Shuri takes up the Black Panther mantle with voice work from Erica Luttrell. Her playstyle avoids heavy bulk, opting instead for athletic close-quarters rushing. She swings the Spear of Bashenga for mid-range spacing to keep aggressive fighters away, but her primary trick is an ability called Bast's Blessing. This tool is a multi-directional dash that uses its own energy meter. You can cancel your regular normal punches or specialized skills right into this dash, meaning you can keep combos going or instantly reset your positioning to trick an opponent who's trying to block.
Cosmic Antagonists Host A Multiversal Tournament Inside Wakanda
The announcement also featured the Wakanda stage, a zone in Africa mixing advanced tech architecture right alongside rich natural greenery. You'll fight in this environment inside the game's story-driven Episode Mode. The plot sets up a dangerous cosmic threat named The Champion, an immortal conqueror from the Elders of the Universe who's threatening to destroy Earth.
He's forcing everyone into a multiversal arena called the Challenge of the Champion tournament, and he's running the entire show alongside his tournament director and right-hand showwoman, known as the Promoter.
With the game entering its final production cycle, these distinct character updates will give you an authentic preview of the updated playable build that fans can get their hands on at Combo Breaker 2026.
If you're heading down to Chicago for Combo Breaker 2026, let me know in the comments below if you're planning to line up for a turn on this 13-character build. Stay locked right here for more updates as MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls hits its final production milestones!
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