PlayStation and RTS acquire EVO tournament, shaping the future of competitive fighting games
The Historic Acquisition
The fighting game community witnessed a seismic shift when Sony Interactive Entertainment, in partnership with emerging esports organization RTS, announced their acquisition of the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) on March 18, 2021. This landmark deal represents the first major collaboration between a console manufacturer and an esports entity in the fighting game space.
The acquisition comes after a challenging year for offline tournaments, with EVO facing significant organizational changes following sexual harassment allegations against former leadership in 2020.
EVO’s official statement emphasized gratitude toward the dedicated fighting game community that supported the tournament through its transition period. The organization highlighted its commitment to maintaining EVO’s legacy while embracing new opportunities under PlayStation and RTS leadership.
EVO Online 2021 Details
The newly announced EVO Online 2021 will run from August 13-15 as a free-to-enter event, with qualifying regions including North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. This marks a significant expansion from previous years’ regional limitations.
Featured games for the 2021 tournament include:
The open-format tournaments will feature online qualifiers streamed for global audiences, with additional game titles and format details to be announced in coming weeks. Players should prepare for potential regional server considerations and varying time zone schedules when planning their participation strategy.
Community Response and Future Outlook
Initial community reaction to the acquisition was mixed, with some players concerned about potential platform exclusivity. EVO Business Developer Mark Julio quickly clarified: “EVO is still open to all platforms. The teams at PlayStation and RTS are enabling us to continue working with our community to support fighting games.”
Also very important to note. @EVO is still open to all platforms. The teams at PlayStation and RTS are enabling us to continue working with our community to support fighting games. https://t.co/NKMQUSvkfj
— Mark Julio 『マークマン』 (@MarkMan23) March 18, 2021
The FGC remains cautiously optimistic about EVO’s future, viewing the acquisition as an opportunity for greater stability and resources after the turbulent 2020 season. Tournament organizers recommend players focus on refining their online play skills and network stability in preparation for the August event.
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