Arc System Works took the opportunity to provide several updates during the ARC World Tour 2025-2026 Finals. The announcements weren’t only for the participating games in competitive eSports, but also for the developers’ upcoming fighting games.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls makes a surprising entrance with its newly revealed team called The Amazing Guardians. Spider-Man leads his young, talkative team with Ms. Marvel, Star-Lord, and the new Peni Parker.
Peni Parker fights with her reliable SP//dr mech, letting her excel with setups and traps. With her spider skills and tech, she’s able to deal massive damage with her teammates during their unique team ultimate. Peni will be available at the game’s launch on August 6, 2026, along with the brand new sci-fi stage, Knowhere.
UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys: Celes
Another unexpected announcement was UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys: Celes with its new character. There wasn’t any gameplay, though the trailer sprinkled some hints about the fighter.
The new cloaked character revealed herself by tearing the screen, showing faint images of claws. Her weapon implies her preference for close-range, though the developers will reveal her fighting style closer to her launch in 2026.
Guilty Gear Strive
The most expansive announcement is the long-awaited reveal of Guilty Gear Strive 2.0. The new update completely overhauls the in-game system to create a fresh new experience for the general, growing community. It even replaces Wild Assault with Counter Blitz, a new in-game mechanic for dealing extra damage during a counter hit.
Guilty Gear Strive 2.0 will satisfy both newcomers and veterans with new additions ranging from several character adjustments, new special moves, and rewards from the new Blazing Pass. Anyone can gain multiple rewards to customize each fighter, battle U.I., wanted posters, and more. It’s also possible to learn more about the developing roster through their new short stories.
Version 2.0 update will start Season 5 with Jam as the first new fighter. She doesn’t just fight with her reliable martial arts and cooking utensils, but also her bunny companion named Usagi. She’s currently planned for launch with the version 2.0 update on April 9, 2026, along with Cradled by the Four Beasts as the new stage. Robo-Ky is the next fighter who’s preparing his special entrance in summer 2026; there’s a lot more support confirmed for the latest Guilty Gear until Spring 2027.
