The Samurai Outriders were revealed at EVO 2026, completing MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls’ 20-character launch roster. Here’s everything about Blade, Loki, Deadpool, the new Asgard stage, and the upcoming open beta.
MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls now has its full 20-character launch roster confirmed. Arc System Works revealed the fifth and final team, the Samurai Outriders, during EVO 2026 on June 28, adding Blade, Loki, and Deadpool alongside the previously announced Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes). The 4v4 tag-team fighter launches August 6, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Who Are the Samurai Outriders?
Producer Takeshi Yamanaka addressed the elephant in the room during the reveal: putting Ghost Rider and Blade on the same squad immediately makes people think of the Midnight Sons, but this team is something different. The Samurai Outriders are described as a group of dark heroes who don’t start as a cohesive unit. How they come together will be explored in the game’s Episode Mode.
The team rounds out the roster alongside the Amazing Guardians, Fighting Avengers, Unbreakable X-Men, and Knights of Doom. Each team consists of four characters, and players can mix and match heroes and villains freely when building their in-game squad.
Blade: Aggressive Vampire Hunter with the Muramasa Sword
Eric Brooks, better known as Blade, arrives as a half-vampire warrior who has completed his training in Japan. His signature weapon is the Muramasa, a demon-slaying sword normally kept sealed. When Blade unleashes its power, the blade turns red and his sword-based skills get a significant boost.
Blade’s kit is aggressive and weapon-heavy. Beyond the Muramasa, he uses machine guns and glaives, giving him tools at multiple ranges. His unique ability, Heartstopper, throws a stake that pins an opponent in place before Blade closes the gap at high speed. Landing Heartstopper activates the Muramasa’s red state, making him even more dangerous in close quarters. He will be playable for the first time during the open beta.
Loki: Trickery, Illusions, and Mind Games
Thor’s adopted brother and the God of Mischief enters MARVEL Tōkon as a former villain trying to turn over a new leaf. Born as the son of Frost Giant King Laufey and raised by Odin, Loki brings a fighting style built entirely around deception.
He leans on illusions, feints, and counters alongside ice-based and magic projectiles. When his bluffs connect, opponents are left guessing where the real attack is coming from. The trade-off is steep: when an opponent reads Loki correctly, he gets punished hard. This high-risk, high-reward psychological warfare style makes him a standout pick for players who enjoy outsmarting their opponents.
Deadpool: Fourth-Wall-Breaking Chaos
Wade Wilson brings his signature brand of reckless, self-destructive combat to the roster. The Canadian mercenary, whose Healing Factor keeps him alive despite his own best efforts to get killed, fights with guns, grenades, swords, and a fighting-game strategy guide he apparently picked up from beyond the fourth wall.
In gameplay terms, Deadpool is a high-risk character who takes damage himself to fuel his offense. His moveset includes nods to classic fighting games, with a confirmed Mortal Kombat “Toasty” reference spotted in the reveal trailer. Players who enjoy chaotic, aggressive playstyles with a comedic twist will find a lot to love here.
New Stage: Asgard, Realm of the Gods
Alongside the Samurai Outriders, a new stage was revealed: Asgard. This multi-area battleground sits at the top of the Nine Realms and features five distinct zones: the Observatory, Bifrost Bridge, Throne Room, Treasure Vault, and Yggdrasil (the World Tree). The stage takes full advantage of MARVEL Tōkon’s stage-transition system, where fights move across sections as the match escalates.
Global Open Beta: July 24-26 on PS5 and PC
Arc System Works confirmed a global Open Beta running from July 24 to 26, 2026, on both PlayStation 5 and PC. Blade will be playable in this beta for the first time. Previous closed betas ran in September 2025 (six characters, PS5 only) and December 2025 (eight characters, PS5 only, 72-hour window). The open beta expands access to PC and more details will be shared soon.
A PlayStation account is required for the PS5 beta. The game launches just 10 days after the beta ends, on August 6, giving players a final chance to try it before committing.
Full Launch Roster: 5 Teams, 20 Characters
With the Samurai Outriders now confirmed, here is the complete launch roster:
| Team | Characters |
|---|---|
| Amazing Guardians | Ms. Marvel, Peni Parker, Spider-Man, Star-Lord |
| Fighting Avengers | Black Panther (Shuri), Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man |
| Unbreakable X-Men | Danger, Magik, Storm, Wolverine |
| Knights of Doom | Carnage, Doctor Doom, Green Goblin, Magneto |
| Samurai Outriders | Blade, Deadpool, Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes), Loki |
Post-launch support includes a Year One Pass with at least four additional characters and one new stage as DLC. The Ultimate Edition bundles pre-order bonuses, five character costumes, animated chromatic colours unlocked for all 20 launch characters, and the Year One Pass.
What Makes MARVEL Tōkon Different from Other Marvel Fighters?
MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is developed by Arc System Works, the studio behind Guilty Gear Strive and Dragon Ball FighterZ, in collaboration with PlayStation Studios and Marvel Games. The game uses a 4v4 tag-team system where players can build teams by mixing heroes and villains freely, but a hybrid mechanic also lets you fight an entire match with a single character if you prefer.
A standout system called “Tōkon Assemble” activates once per match, only in a round where losing means elimination. It triggers a combined four-character assault that deals massive damage, acting as a dramatic comeback tool. The game also features rollback netcode, a spectator mode, and interactive multi-zone stages.
Things Players Usually Want to Know
Which platforms will MARVEL Tōkon be on? PlayStation 5 and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store). No Xbox or Nintendo release has been announced.
Is the open beta free? Yes, the July 24-26 open beta is free on both PS5 and PC. A PlayStation account is needed for the PS5 version.
How many characters at launch? 20 characters across five teams, with at least four more coming as DLC in the first year.
Will there be offline content? The second closed beta included CPU battles. The full game features an Episode Mode that tells the teams’ stories, plus a tutorial mode.
Who developed the game? Arc System Works handles development, with PlayStation Studios (XDev team) and Marvel Games as partners. Sony Interactive Entertainment is the publisher.
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