Evolution, or EVO as it is known to everyone around the world, was an important event for the fighting game community. That is, until the first signs of corporate esports transition started showing up in the past few decades.
Fast forward to now, and it seems that the concerns have become real. This is because EVO has been completely bought off from Sony by the Saudi company Qiddiya/RTS. Not many are happy with this outcome, and there are several factors governing this sentiment.
EVO has always been a one time super-bowl like grassroots event that stood for inclusivity across the fighting game community. With Saudi Arabia being the sole owner of this monumental event, not many people in the community have confidence in the future decisions the owners might take.
A history of EVO and its grassroots origins
The Evolution tournament was originally founded way back in 1996’s arcade fighting game culture. When people came together to find out who is the best Street Fighter player in all of the regions. Back then, it used to be called ‘Battle by the Bay’.
As years passed by, EVO was eventually established as a major event that fighting game players from all over the world would travel to participate in. It far outshone what other grassroots tournaments were doing in other regions.
With Qiddiya/RTS being the new owners of EVO, fans are concerned about how the appeal of the tournament is being diluted by distributing multiple EVOs all over the world. In a new blogpost the higher-ups provide kind words about how their goal is not to take away the culture and grassroots sentiments from the tournament. But not many are buying into it yet.
Social media reacts to multiple EVOs in the upcoming years
Fighting game fans on social media had a lot to say on the gradual increase of Saudi dependence on the scene. EVO has announced multiple regional tournaments, which now concerns some that it will come in direct conflict with other regional tournaments throughout the year.
Some pro players are happy to see lesser-known FGC regions now getting a chance to prove themselves on a bigger stage, while also coming out to voice concerns about how there are way too many EVOs in a single year.
While the rest of the social media is busy with newfound humor about how in years to come, almost every region all over the world is going to see EVO pop up.
Although there’s still a whole year left before things are set into motion, there’s no doubt that the prestige of becoming an EVO champ will soon dwindle if the tournament keeps multiplying further. Only time can tell if things will pan out for the better in the upcoming years.
