Two Problems, One Fix Path
Before diving into the technical fixes, it helps to know exactly what you are fighting against. When you boot up MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, you will hit one of two walls.
The first is the mandatory PSN account login. This is not a bug. You need a valid PSN account to proceed. If you do not have one, register a new account or sign in with an existing one. That part is straightforward.
The second issue is more serious: the game simply cannot connect to its servers. This is where the real troubleshooting begins. Below are two solutions. The first, a VPN or proxy, is easy to set up but comes with a performance penalty. The second, Zapret, requires more steps but delivers a dramatically better connection.
| Method | Setup Difficulty | Latency Impact | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| VPN/Proxy | Easy | +90ms or more | Works, but sluggish |
| Zapret | Moderate | Minimal (40ms example) | Best for PvP |
Method 1: VPN or Proxy Server (The Quick Fix)
The simplest solution is to enable a VPN or proxy server before launching the game. There are dozens of services available, and YouTube is full of tutorials for setting them up, so I will not repeat the basic configuration steps here.
Once your VPN is active, the connection issue usually disappears. The game becomes playable, and you can start fighting. However, you will pay for that simplicity in latency. Expect your ping to jump by approximately 90 ms or more.
For PvE content, that is acceptable. For ranked matches or fighting a friend, it is a handicap. It works, but it is far from the optimal way to play.
Method 2: Zapret — Setup Steps
Zapret is the better solution. It is a tool that filters and modifies network traffic to bypass the server blocks, and it does so with far less overhead than a VPN. The setup is more involved, but the payoff is a stable, low-ping connection.
If you want to fix Easy Anti-Cheat Launch issue, check out this guide.
Follow these steps exactly. The process is finicky, but once it is running, you do not need to touch it again.
- Download the latest version of the Zapret program from the official GitHub releases page:
https://github.com/flowseal/zapret-discord-youtube/releases. - Extract the downloaded archive to any convenient location on your drive. A folder on your desktop works fine.
- Open the extracted folder.
- Locate the file named
Serviceand run it. This installs the necessary background service. - Configure the settings exactly as shown in the screenshot provided in the release notes. The default values work for most users, but do not skip this step.
- Press the
1key, then pressEnter. This navigates you to the list of available BAT files. - Select one of the proposed options from the list.
Warning: If the Service file does not run as an administrator, the setup will fail. Right-click the file and select “Run as administrator” if you encounter any errors.
Method 2: Zapret — Selection and Performance Notes
The selection step is where most people get confused, so here is the breakdown. In the list of BAT files, the first option is the one that worked for me. Press 1, then Enter, and the script will apply the configuration.
If the first option does not fix your connection, do not panic. Work through the other BAT files in sequence. Each one applies a different traffic modification strategy, and one of them will match your network environment. It is a trial-and-error process, but it rarely takes more than a few tries.
The performance difference is where Zapret shines. When I tested it against the same opponent, the numbers were clear:
| Method | Ping (same opponent) |
|---|---|
| VPN | 90–100 ms |
| Zapret | 40 ms |
That is a 50 ms improvement, which is massive in a fighting game. If your opponent also uses Zapret, the connection is even tighter. Input lag drops, and matches feel responsive. That is all there is to it. Set it up, pick the right BAT file, and enjoy the game.