Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced the acquisition of the Evolution Championship Series (Evo), alongside the esports company, RTS.
“Fighting games have been a vital part of PlayStation’s legacy and our community since the very beginning, and we’ve been thrilled to partner with Evo over the years,” said Sony Interactive Entertainment’s VP of global competitive gaming Steven Roberts. “This joint acquisition with RTS marks a new chapter of collaboration with Evo’s co-founders, Tom and Tony Cannon, and their passionate community of fighting game fans.”
With expertise spanning esports event management, brand and developer consulting and gaming talent management, RTS is a new venture led by CEO Stuart Saw and backed by investors including global entertainment, sports and content company Endeavor.
Evo co-founders Tom and Tony Cannon will remain closely involved in an advisory role to ensure Evo continues to service the fighting game community and support its vibrant growth.
This partnership marks a new collaboration, bringing together the resources and expertise that will allow us to elevate the global reach, scale and fan engagement surrounding this iconic gaming tournament.
RTS CEO Stuart Saw continued: “Evo is a unique and iconic community unlike any other in the fighting game space, and we’re proud to be partnering with the SIE team and the legends that are Tom and Tony — as well as Mark Julio as Head of Business Development — to help grow Evo. We’ve got so many exciting plans in store for this year and beyond.”
Evo is confirmed to return this year as Evo Online, a fully online competition taking place August 6 – 8 and 13 -15. Entry will be free, and players in North America, Europe, Asia, and South America will be able to compete in Tekken 7, Capcom’s Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, and Arc System Works’ Guilty Gear -Strive- in an open format.
The next Evo events will be digital-only and are scheduled to take place in August. The first games announced for Evo 2021 are Guilty Gear Strive, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, and Tekken 7.
Stay tuned at Gaming Instincts via Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook for more gaming news.
