In 1996, a webmaster for a
fighting game website organized “Battle by the Bay,” an organized tournament
with 40 contestants playing popular fighting games “Street Fighter II Turbo”
and “Street Fighter Alpha 2.” Its success made it an annual event, where it
grew in scope until in 2002 it took its present name, the Evolution Championship
Series or EVO. Moving from classic arcade cabinets to powerful next-gen
videogame consoles, EVO established itself as a pillar of the international
E-sports scene. While the 2020 edition was cancelled due to COVID and internal
controversies, come 2021 EVO is slated to return in an online format, with a
new part-owner to boot: Sony.
According to IGN, the Evolution Championship Series is now under the joint
ownership of talent and media holding company Endeavor, via its RTS E-sports
venture, and Sony Interactive Entertainment, the Japanese electronic giant’s
videogame arm. As a result of the joint venture’s acquisition of EVO’s assets
and properties, Sony can now guarantee that the gaming platform being used in
future EVO tournaments are their PlayStation series consoles. The tournament’s
founders, Tom and Tony Cannon, are announced to be remaining in EVO, re-designated
as key advisors.
A message to our community. For more information visit https://t.co/6JHZCsJsXr pic.twitter.com/uj0NKRW30m
— EVO (@EVO) March 18, 2021
Sony Interactive VP for global
competitive gaming Steven Roberts spoke of how fighting games have been one of
the major legacies held by PlayStation, and that their joint acquisition of EVO
with Endeavor-RTS, after years of official partnership, will offer a new
chapter in fighting game e-sport competition. They have thus announced dates
for EVO 2021, a fully-digital event happening on August 6-8 and then on 13-15. “Tekken
7,” “Street Fighter 5: Champion Edition,’ “Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate,” and “Guilty
Gear – Strive” are among the major current fighting game titles to be contested
for EVO.
While Sony looks fit to reap
benefits from their new stomping grounds at EVO, things seem to be uncertain
for other game systems such as Microsoft’s Xbox One and Series, and Nintendo’s
Switch, especially what exclusive fighting games they might have. EVO business
developer Mark Julio assures that Sony part-ownership does not mean the exile
of all non-PlayStation platforms from the event. Nintendo however has announced
that they will resume assessing EVO on whether it will continue official
hosting of “Smash Bros” tournaments come August.
Image courtesy of Dot Esports
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