Pokimane’s RTS acquisition could revive Super Smash Bros. Melee at EVO after 5-year hiatus with community support
The RTS Acquisition: A New Era for Fighting Games
Streaming superstar Imane ‘Pokimane’ Anys has positioned her newly established company RTS as a potential game-changer for the fighting game competitive landscape through its co-ownership of the prestigious Evolution Championship Series.
The influential content creator’s role as chief creative officer at RTS provides her with significant sway over EVO’s future tournament lineups and community initiatives.
RTS officially launched on October 27 as a comprehensive talent management and brand consulting organization, though initial plans were revealed back in March 2021. The strategic partnership with Sony to acquire EVO represents a major power shift in competitive gaming governance. During her October 29 broadcast, Pokimane directly addressed the fighting game community’s aspirations while hinting at concrete plans to reintroduce Super Smash Bros. Melee to the EVO main stage for the first time since its 2018 appearance.
Pokimane / RTSAs co-founder and chief creative officer, Pokimane wields considerable influence over RTS’s competitive gaming direction.
Community Response and Pokimane’s Engagement
During her October 29 livestream, Pokimane dedicated substantial time to discussing the fighting game community’s historical challenges and current aspirations.
She expressed genuine appreciation for the community’s reception, stating: “I truly value how open and supportive the fighting game community has behaved toward me personally, toward RTS as an organization, toward this acquisition process, and toward our overall vision.” Pokimane provided insightful analysis about why the community responded so positively, observing: “However, I must acknowledge that they’ve experienced such prolonged neglect regarding both recognition and basic respect that any positive attention feels revolutionary.” The streamer specifically referenced Melee by name while sharing: “Numerous close contacts have reached out demanding ‘Free Melee! Can you restore it to the premier stage?’, and I’ve assured them their voices are being heard.”
The FreeMelee Movement and Nintendo’s Stance
The #FreeMelee movement gained significant traction in November 2020 when Nintendo issued a cease and desist order to The Big House tournament organizers, who had planned an online Melee competition utilizing the Slippi netplay application.
NintendoNintendo’s legal intervention against The Big House online tournament highlighted ongoing tensions with the Melee community. Super Smash Bros. Melee hasn’t been featured at EVO since 2018, yet its competitive ecosystem remains remarkably vibrant despite the game celebrating its 20th anniversary, demonstrating extraordinary community dedication and organizational resilience.
Future Prospects and Competitive Implications
Reintroducing Melee to EVO’s lineup would represent a monumental achievement for both the game’s dedicated following and Pokimane’s growing influence within esports. The community’s persistent advocacy combined with RTS’s newfound authority creates the most favorable conditions for Melee’s competitive return in years. Success would require navigating complex relationships with Nintendo while implementing robust technical solutions for modern tournament standards. The potential revival signals a broader shift toward community-driven esports governance that prioritizes player and fan interests alongside commercial considerations. Melee’s technical depth and spectator-friendly gameplay continue to make it a compelling addition to any major fighting game tournament lineup.
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