"We felt this interpretation would allow us to create fresher visuals and a more exciting fighting style while offering something unexpected for players." That's producer Takeshi Yamanaka on why Arc System Works went with the Phoenix version of Cyclops as the first post-launch fighter for Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls.
The full Year 1 DLC roster is now confirmed, and it's a solid mix of fan favorites and some genuinely left-field picks.
The four fighters coming to the roster
Here's the complete Year 1 lineup and when each character drops:
| Character | Release Window |
|---|---|
| Phoenix Cyclops | November 2 |
| Thor (Jane Foster) | Winter 2027 |
| Venom + Klyntar Stage | Spring 2027 |
| Jubilee | Summer 2027 |
All four characters, plus the Klyntar stage, are bundled into the Year One Characters & Stage Pass. Each fighter can also be purchased individually if you'd rather pick and choose.
The roster reveal came alongside artwork from Marvel artist Peach Momoko, which Arc System Works commissioned specifically to tease each character. It's a nice touch that gives the announcement more personality than a standard character card drop.
Why Phoenix Cyclops is DLC and not a launch character
Here's the thing: Cyclops was apparently in the frame for the base roster, but the development team wasn't satisfied with a standard version of the character. Yamanaka explained that the team "made the difficult decision to continue working on the character until we felt like we were adding something new", which pushed him to post-launch status.
The Phoenix version brings new visuals, reworked Optic Blasts, and Dark Phoenix gameplay mechanics. That's a meaningfully different fighter from a straight Cyclops port, so the delay makes sense from a design standpoint. Phoenix Cyclops also launches with both Classic and Legacy costumes on day one, November 2.
What Venom and Jubilee signal for the game's direction
Venom is the obvious crowd-pleaser here. He's one of the most-requested characters in any Marvel fighting game, and the addition of a dedicated Klyntar stage alongside him suggests Arc System Works is treating him as a proper event rather than just another DLC slot. Spring 2027 feels like a long wait, but the stage inclusion sweetens it.
Jubilee is the more interesting choice. She's not a character who shows up in every Marvel crossover fighter, which either means the team has something genuinely creative planned for her playstyle, or the roster selection is leaning into a more comics-faithful direction rather than defaulting to the usual heavy hitters. Either way, summer 2027 is a long runway to build anticipation.
Thor (Jane Foster) slots in for winter 2027 and carries obvious appeal given the character's profile from the comics run. The key here is how Arc System Works differentiates her from any existing Thor-adjacent moveset in the game's base roster.
A post-launch roadmap that stretches well into 2027
With the base game already out on PS5 and PC, this Year 1 schedule gives the competitive community something to plan around. Phoenix Cyclops lands in less than a month, which keeps the momentum going from launch. The spacing between fighters, roughly one per season, is a familiar pattern for Arc System Works titles and gives each character time to settle into the meta before the next one arrives.
For players still getting to grips with the base roster, the Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls guides collection has everything from character breakdowns to trophy hunting covered while the DLC schedule plays out.
