Between PlayStation’s State of Play and the Xbox Games Showcase, the reveals forMarvel Tokon: Fighting SoulsandInvincible VShave already made 2026 an exciting year for fighting game fans, but a contribution fromNetherRealm Studiosis noticeably missing. As one of the “Big Three” developers in the fighting game space, the lack of an announcement forNetherRealm Studios’ next major title is peculiar.
It’s been almost two years since the release ofMortal Kombat 1, with very little word of NetherRealm’s next projects.Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollectionwas shown off during the State of Play presentation, but it was confirmed to be developed by Digital Eclipse, calling into question what NetherRealm’s plans are moving forward. With confirmation thatMortal Kombat 1will no longer be supportedwith new characters or story chapters, this opens opportunities for the developer to come back next year in a major way.Marvel TokonandInvincible VSare set to release in 2026, and if a new Injustice for NetherRealm were to release, it could become the year of the superhero fighting game.
Injustice 3 Should Be Released in 2026
Injustice’s Gameplay Style Would Stand Out
Marvel TokonandInvincible VSare competing for the top spot of 2026’s best tag fighter.Invincible VSis playing it safe by using the tried and true 3v3 format, butMarvel Tokonis reinventing the formula with 4v4 battles. If the nextInjusticetitle takes inspiration fromMortal Kombat 1’s Kameo system, it could introduce a support or tag mechanic to the series for the first time, differentiating itself from the year’s other superhero fighting games with a 2v2 approach. Even ifInjustice 3keeps the tradition of being a standard 1v1 fighting game, it can still stand out from the other tag fighters available in 2026.
NetherRealm also succeeds at adding guest characters to their games, including the fighting game debut ofOmni-Man inMortal Kombat 1, predatingInvincible VSby 3 years. It’s very likely thatMarvel TokonandInvincible VSwill stick to their respective universes for their playable characters, but theInjusticeroster is no stranger to guest characters. From Hellboy to all four of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, players can rely on a DC-centered story that isn’t afraid to include characters from other universes for added crossover potential.
Competition for Marvel Tokon and Invincible VS
Little is currently known about bothMarvel TokonandInvincible VS, which could give anInjustice 3reveal a slight advantage. Rather than having to establish itself amongst the competition,Injusticealready has a bright futurebecause of the quality of its past titles. The reputation of Arc System Works is carryingMarvel Tokon, but its IP and gameplay style leave it susceptible to comparisons with theMarvel vs. Capcomfranchise. WithInjustice, the only expectations it needs to surpass are previous games in the series, and judging by the increasing quality in theMortal Kombatseries,Injustice 3is in safe hands.
Another unique selling point of theInjusticefranchise is that it values its narrative as much as its gameplay.Marvel Tokonis using brand and developer recognition to stand out, and the brutal battles ofInvincible VSfill the void left byMortal Kombat, but thestory ofInjusticemakes the game appealing to even casual fighting game players. It’s not yet known ifMarvel TokonorInvincible VSwill include a story mode, but from the trailers, it is clear that the main appeal of these titles is their gameplay. IfInjustice 3pushes the importance of its campaign in its marketing, it could garner the interest of comic book fans who are new to the genre.
Injustice 3 Needs to Avoid One Trope
The endings ofInjustice 2give a very clear indication of where the series could go next. The game’sbad ending shows Superman becoming more tyrannicalthan before, whereas the good ending seeks to repair the damage caused throughout both stories, with a depowered Superman imprisoned in the Phantom Zone. NetherRealm has yet to confirm which of these is canon, but if the game were to release next year, there is one decision that could be crucial to make.
At the time ofInjustice: Gods Among Us, the concept of an evil Superman was fairly novel. Now, it is a common trope used in a lot of superhero media. This includesInvincible, as Omni-Man is intended to allude to Superman. Regardless of which endingInjustice 3follows on from, the story shouldsubvert the evil Superman premiseby introducing the good Superman fans are accustomed to.
Injustice 3fans could have the best of both worlds with its Superman while still standing out from its fighting game competitors. From the initial trailers, it seems as thoughMarvel TokonandInvincible VSmay be straying away from a multiversal storyline that many superhero stories have adopted, soInjustice 3could make use of this.Injustice 2included a Multiverse game mode as a way of unlocking new content, but it did not factor into the game’s story.Injustice 3could embrace the multiverseby maintaining its established characters while also introducing different variants with opposing morals.
Marvel TokonandInvincble VSboth look like incredible superhero fighting games to look forward to next year, and NetherRealm could keep this trend going by announcing the release of the nextInjusticetitle. Whether it joins its other two competitors with a tag fighting system or stays true to the traditional 1v1 fighter formula, a 2026 release would be great for fans of these superhero series. A recentdatamine revealedInjustice 3could currently be in development, and if this holds true, then a release date next year might not be out of the question. Until it hopefully gets an announcement, though, players will have time to catch up on the previous games in the series.
