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Site News: Where’s Our Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls PS5 Review?
Push Square has explained why its review of Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls will not be published on the game's PS5 launch day. Sony has withheld review code until launch because of the fighting game's live-service, online nature, meaning the outlet cannot access multiplayer servers or fully assess the game beforehand. This delay is notable given readers would typically expect a review to coincide with release.
Without early access, the reviewers have not yet tried characters such as Deadpool, tested the single-player campaign, or explored all the game's modes, all of which now has to happen after launch alongside the public servers going live. Push Square says it is difficult to give a precise timeline but tentatively expects to publish its review early the following week.
In short
- Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls review delayed past PS5 launch day.
- Sony withheld code due to live-service online requirements.
- Push Square expects to publish its review early next week.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Publishers withholding review code for live-service games until launch makes sense because these games fundamentally cannot be reviewed accurately without functioning servers and live systems. Players cannot meaningfully test multiplayer functionality, matchmaking, seasonal content, or the broader social experience in isolation, so reviews based on offline or test versions would give readers a misleading impression of what they are actually purchasing.
The case against
Consumers require launch-day reviews to make informed purchasing decisions, and withholding code until launch undermines this vital consumer protection. A game's single-player content, core mechanics, and available characters can be thoroughly evaluated in advance without live servers, yet readers are denied this information when they need it most, giving publishers excessive control over the narrative and disadvantaging reviewers from properly assessing the product.
Explained simply
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls is a fighting game based on Marvel characters, made for PlayStation 5. Reviews usually give readers an independent assessment before or around a game’s release, helping them decide whether to buy it.
Game makers sometimes provide review copies early, but online games can depend on live servers and features that are unavailable before launch. That can limit what reviewers are able to test, including multiplayer and other parts of the game.
The timing of reviews matters because readers may use them to make a purchase decision on release day. In this case, the review will follow after the game’s servers open and the outlet has had time to assess its modes and characters.