The Year 1 Pass is a DLC subscription for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls that includes 4 additional characters and 1 additional stage, all released by December 31, 2027. The Pass is included in the Digital Deluxe and Ultimate Editions, or can be purchased separately for $39.99 USD. This guide covers the Pass contents, the release schedule, and the value analysis for purchasing the Pass separately.
Pass Contents
The Year 1 Pass includes 4 additional characters and 1 additional stage. The 4 characters will be released in waves of 1 character every 2-3 months throughout 2026 and 2027. The 1 additional stage will be released alongside the first wave of characters in late 2026. All Pass content is automatically delivered to Pass holders without additional purchase.
Character Release Schedule
The 4 Year 1 Pass characters will be released on the following schedule. Wave 1 releases in late 2026 and includes a single character. Wave 2 releases in early 2027 and includes a single character. Wave 3 releases in mid 2027 and includes a single character. Wave 4 releases in late 2027 and includes the final character. The exact characters have not been announced but are expected to be fan-favorite Marvel characters not in the launch roster.
Anticipated Characters
The anticipated Year 1 Pass characters include popular Marvel fighters like Captain Marvel, Black Widow, Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Venom, and Silver Surfer. These characters have been requested by the community but have not been confirmed by ARC SYSTEM WORKS.
Additional Stage Details
The Year 1 Pass includes 1 additional stage that will be released in late 2026. The stage has not been officially announced but is expected to be a major Marvel location like the Baxter Building, Latveria, or Attilan. The stage will include the standard interactive hazards and will be available in Versus, Online Lobby, and Episode Mode.
Value Analysis
The Year 1 Pass at $39.99 represents a $20.00 savings compared to purchasing the 4 characters separately at $10.00 each ($40.00) and the stage at $19.99 ($59.99 total). The savings makes the Pass the recommended option for players who want all DLC content. Players who only want specific characters should consider purchasing them separately when they are released.
| Purchase Option | Price | Total Content |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Pass | $39.99 | 4 chars + 1 stage |
| 4 Characters separately | $40.00 | 4 chars |
| Stage separately | $19.99 | 1 stage |
| Pass + Everything | $59.98 | 4 chars + 1 stage |
Year 1 Pass Contents Breakdown
The Year 1 Pass is a DLC subscription that extends MARVEL Tōkon's launch roster with 4 additional characters and 1 additional stage across the first 18 months of the game's lifecycle. Pass holders receive content automatically through Day 1 patch activation on each release date, with no additional purchase required. The Pass is included in both Digital Deluxe and Ultimate Editions, or can be purchased separately for $24.99 by Standard Edition owners.
The complete Pass contents:
- 4 post-launch characters — Released in waves of 1 character every 2-3 months from late 2026 through December 31, 2027
- 1 additional stage — Released in 2027 alongside one of the character waves
- Automatic content delivery — No redemption codes required; content unlocks through Day 1 patches
- Cross-platform access — Works on PS5, Steam, and Epic Games Store versions
- No gameplay-affecting balance changes — Year 1 Pass characters are designed with their own movesets; they don't alter base game character balance
The Pass functions differently from season passes in other fighting games. Instead of unlocking everything immediately at purchase, content rolls out on a staggered schedule through the end of 2027. Pass buyers receive every drop as it releases without additional transactions.
Character Release Schedule
The 4 Year 1 Pass characters release on a quarterly schedule through 2026 and 2027. Sony and ARC SYSTEM WORKS have not confirmed specific dates or character identities, but the schedule structure follows standard post-launch DLC patterns seen in similar fighting games.
| Wave | Expected Release Window | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave 1 | Q4 2026 (Oct-Dec) | 1st character | TBA |
| Wave 2 | Q1 2027 (Jan-Mar) | 2nd character | TBA |
| Wave 3 | Q2 2027 (Apr-Jun) | 3rd character + new stage | TBA |
| Wave 4 | Q3-Q4 2027 (Jul-Dec) | 4th character | TBA |
| December 31, 2027 | All Pass content released | Hard deadline | Confirmed |
Anticipated Character Candidates
While ARC SYSTEM WORKS has not officially announced the 4 Pass characters, community speculation and Marvel roster analysis suggest several likely candidates. Characters not in the launch roster who would complement the existing 20-character lineup include:
- Captain Marvel — Photon-based zoning character similar to Storm's ranged archetype
- Doctor Strange — Mystic arts melee/midrange character with portal-based mobility
- Scarlet Witch — Chaos magic controller with reality-warping projectile manipulation
- Black Widow — Gadget-based stealth fighter with stun mechanics
- Venom — Symbiote rushdown with high HP and aggressive pressure tools
- Silver Surfer — Power cosmic zoner with ranged board-based mobility
- Moon Knight — Multi-phase fighter with lunar-themed stance shifting
- Cable — Time-displaced soldier with techno-organic projectile attacks
The actual 4 characters will likely draw from this pool plus potentially obscure fan-favorite picks. ARC SYSTEM WORKS has confirmed that character design priorities are balanced roster coverage (zoning, rushdown, grappler) and unique moveset differentiation from launch characters.
Year 1 Pass Stage Details
The Year 1 Pass includes 1 additional stage released alongside one of the character waves. The stage has not been officially announced but is expected to follow the Marvel-themed location pattern established by the launch stages. Strong candidate locations based on the existing 8 stages include:
- Baxter Building — The Fantastic Four's iconic headquarters in Manhattan, with floor-based hazard zones
- Latveria — Doctor Doom's castle nation with mystic energy hazards and throne room background
- Attilan — The Inhumans' city on the moon with low-gravity aerial combat sections
- Madripoor — The criminal haven with neon-lit streets and rooftop chase hazards
- Salem — A mystical location tied to Scarlet Witch or Doctor Strange themes
- The Raft — A super-prison stage with cell-block danger zones
The stage will integrate the same interactive hazard system used in the launch stages — Asgard and Knowhere's full-screen background dangers, Wakanda's energy panel switches, and Savage Land's terrain collapse. Pass holders receive the stage automatically through the Day 1 patch on release day.
Year 1 Pass Versus Separate Purchase Value
The Year 1 Pass represents a savings compared to buying characters and stages separately, but the savings are smaller than other fighting game season passes. The decision between Pass and separate purchases depends on whether the player wants every character and the stage, or only specific characters.
| Purchase Method | Total Cost | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Pass | $24.99 | 4 characters + 1 stage |
| Buy 1 character DLC | ~$5-7 each (estimated) | 1 character only |
| Buy stage DLC separately | ~$5-7 (estimated) | 1 stage only |
| Buy all 4 characters separately | ~$20-28 (estimated) | 4 characters (no stage) |
| Buy everything separately | ~$25-35 (estimated) | 4 characters + stage |
The Pass saves roughly $5-10 if the player wants every character and the stage. The savings shrink if the player only wants 1-2 of the 4 characters. Sony has not confirmed whether characters will be sold separately if you don't own the Pass, but most fighting games offer standalone character purchases at higher per-unit cost.
Who Should Buy The Pass Separately
The standalone Year 1 Pass is the right purchase for players who:
- Own the Standard Edition and plan to play through December 2027
- Want every character release without depending on Digital Deluxe bundle pricing
- Value the convenience of one Pass purchase over tracking 4+ individual DLC drops
- Are completionists who want the new stage alongside the characters
- Will play ranked and want every tournament-viable option
The standalone Pass is the wrong purchase for players who:
- Already own Digital Deluxe or Ultimate Edition (the Pass is bundled in)
- Only plan to play the launch content and not engage with DLC characters
- Are undecided about continuing past 6 months and want to test the game first
- Want to wait and see which characters are added before committing
Pass Roster Impact On Competitive Play
Each new Year 1 Pass character has the potential to shift the competitive meta, particularly if the character fills a previously under-represented archetype. The launch roster has clear strengths in zoning (Storm, Doctor Doom, Magneto) and rushdown (Wolverine, Carnage, Hulk), but specific niches like dedicated grappler or puppet-master archetypes are less developed.
Anticipated Meta Impact
| Anticipated Character | Likely Archetype | Meta Impact Prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Marvel | Midrange zoning | Tier 1-2 (if zoning is allowed) |
| Doctor Strange | Portal-based mixup | Tier 2 (high skill ceiling) |
| Scarlet Witch | Chaos control | Tier 2 (meta-dependent) |
| Venom | Heavy rushdown | Tier 1 (rushing is strong) |
| Cable | Techno-organic zoning | Tier 2-3 (niche matchups) |
| Moon Knight | Stance-shifting | Tier 2 (multi-phase design) |
| Silver Surfer | Power cosmic zoner | Tier 3 (likely low HP) |
Pass Adaptation Strategy
The 4 confirmed characters will be tier-tested through tournament play and ranked ladder position. The first 4-6 weeks after each Wave's release are the critical adjustment period, when balance patches and tier-list interpretations settle. Players who want to maximize the Pass value should commit to labbing each new character on release day to understand frame data and matchup interactions before the meta locks in.
The Pass also has indirect competitive value through the new stage. A new stage adds another variable to stage selection strategy, particularly if the stage has unique hazards that interact with specific characters' movesets. Tournament stage bans will likely evolve to incorporate the new stage over the first month after release.
For a detailed comparison of all editions, see the Standard Edition article.
For full pricing information across all editions, see the Standard Edition article.
For retailer-specific pre-order bonus details, see the Standard Edition article.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary concept covered in this guide?
This guide covers the MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Year 1 Pass, included with the Digital Deluxe Edition at $84.99 and Ultimate Edition at $99.99. The Year 1 Pass adds 4 post-launch playable characters and 1 new stage before December 31, 2027. Pass holders receive automatic access to new content on release day without additional purchases, and Year 1 Pass content carries over to all platform versions including PS5, Steam, and Epic Games Store through cross-progression if Sony implements the feature.
How do I unlock the year 1 pass feature?
The Year 1 Pass content unlocks automatically through Day 1 patch activation for Digital Deluxe and Ultimate Edition purchasers. The 4 post-launch characters release on staggered dates before December 31, 2027, with the first likely arriving 3-6 months after the August 6, 2026 launch. The new stage unlocks alongside one of the post-launch characters. Standard Edition purchasers at $59.99 can buy the Year 1 Pass separately for $25 if they decide to upgrade mid-cycle.
Is the year 1 pass better for new players or experienced players?
The Year 1 Pass suits experienced competitive players most because the 4 post-launch characters will likely shift the tournament meta and tier list rankings. New players benefit from the expanded roster as they progress through Episode Mode and learn different fighting styles. The Pass provides strong value at $25 for the 4 characters plus stage, representing roughly $6 per character which undercuts individual character DLC pricing. Tournament players should plan their team compositions around the eventual full Year 1 Pass roster.
What is the optimal Point Character for the year 1 pass?
Captain America remains the optimal starting Point Character for Year 1 Pass owners because his Universal toolkit covers every matchup and his Shield Throw projectile controls screen space effectively. Year 1 Pass holders should experiment with new post-launch characters as Point options, evaluating their tournament viability as balance patches adjust frame data every 4-6 weeks. The optimal strategy is to maintain Captain America as Anchor while testing new DLC characters in Point or Assist positions to discover tournament alternatives.
Does the year 1 pass work in Team Remix?
Yes, Year 1 Pass post-launch characters work fully in Team Remix mode from their individual release dates. Pass holders can integrate the 4 new DLC characters into custom 4-character Team Remix compositions alongside the 20 launch characters. Team Remix synergy bonuses from preset Fighting Avengers, Unbreakable X-Men, Knights of Doom, Samurai Squad, and Web Warriors still apply when matching character combinations are present. The new Year 1 Pass stage unlocks for Versus and Online Lobby selection once released.