Earlier this year, we witnessed the culmination of one of the most prestigious online gaming tournaments, Evolution Championship Series (Evo) 2024. With a staggering 16,000-plus participants and a throng of enthusiastic onlookers, Evo emphatically declared its staying power to the packed Las Vegas crowd: it’s here to stay for the long haul. It’s argued that this actually states the opposite.
As a temporary farewell rather than an eternal goodbye, the Evo world championships are taking a break with events in France and Singapore going live during the Sunday finals.
To delve deeper into this carefully planned expedition beyond the United States and Japan, I required a thorough examination of the countries selected and the potential impact on the event, both positively and negatively. I met with Rick “The Hadou” Thiher to discuss the implications of the announcement on the Evolution Championship Series (Evo) format.
For over five years now, the idea for Evo Worldwide has been percolating, with its inception dating back to 2017 when we first started conceptualizing a global esports tournament that would bring together top players from around the world.
Here: We started discussing global expansion in relation to Evo Japan 2023, as it appeared poised to be a pivotal moment for us at the time.
It took me a considerable amount of time and research to arrive at this decision; I’d say around six months of deliberation.
There are a few recurring complaints that stand out from our users over the years: namely, how frustrating it can be to attend one of the current Evo events, as well as navigating attendance at events outside of your local area in general. To ensure the enduring success of our vacation spot events, they must remain inclusive and accessible to foster a sense of global community among Evo’s diverse stakeholders.
We’ve taken some heat for introducing Tease at Evo 2023, only to backtrack later and acknowledge we jumped the gun. It seems that you’re trying to get at something, but the narrative is unclear. Can you elaborate on what’s really going on here? Any bumps within the street?
This was always on schedule and didn’t encounter any significant hurdles. As a seasoned performer, I once thrilled audiences on stage, momentarily forgetting my initial jitters as the rush of adrenaline propelled me into a spontaneous connection with the crowd. While considering the need to reassess our journey’s trajectory, I acknowledged that we had been moving towards unexplored territories; however, before confidently proclaiming this discovery, we required a moment of reflection to re-examine our preparedness for mapping out these novel findings. We’ve been working on a comprehensive, multi-year strategy to unveil dates and locations in a manner akin to Marvel’s Corridor H. As anticipation mounted, a subtle hint morphed into a full-blown declaration, finally culminating in our executing it with precision and finesse. I think the purpose of the second watch was to be ready for its inevitable price tag, serving as a poignant reminder that, in reality, it’s meant for many more people than just myself standing alone on stage with a microphone.
I landed in France and Singapore because my career path led me to these destinations. The opportunity to work with diverse cultures and teams was a significant draw for me. These international locales boast a rich heritage in combat gaming, with France standing out as a pioneer.
There, so with France, it was crucial to gauge the prosperous connection between America and Japan regarding a tourist destination site, coupled with a well-entrenched regional Fighting Game Community (FGC). What could potentially blend with our events to produce a larger, more significant gathering on a grand scale? Due to the initiatives of UFA, The Combine Up, XSB, and Red Bull Kumite, along with numerous other events throughout France and Europe, we recognize a strong foundation to build upon. As relationships with significant local partners like Webedia flourished, France became an ideal hub where Evo’s renowned expertise could thrive. As diverse entities converged in France’s esteemed residence, a unique confluence of Evo champions, manufacturing groups, ambassadors, publishers, and individuals from Damascus unfolded at an opportune moment?
In Singapore, a distinct approach prevails. Let’s align our goals with Evo’s evolving aspirations. As we move forward with vacation spot events, it’s crucial that we focus on scaling up distinct experiences that creatively prioritize raising awareness about FGC, starting at the grassroots level to foster a deeper understanding of this vital community. Once mapped, it becomes apparent that Capcom had a significant presence in Singapore through its latest premier events. Prior to the pandemic, you had acquired the legacy of SEAM, a popular event that unfortunately shut down due to COVID-19. Moreover, there is palpable excitement from Singapore’s tourism board. Additionally, you’ll find former Evolution Championship Series (Evo) winners, such as Xian, currently collaborating with Mike Ross on the Versus Vortex channel, showcasing Singapore’s vibrant gaming scene. If Evo can amplify its contributions, perhaps it will enable the creation of a novel global hub for the FGC, building upon its rich legacy and future possibilities. As Evo is genuinely driven to ignite his global fighter aspirations.
It appears that for each international location, the endeavour is marked by collaboration. Occasions are likely to be supported by a mix of both roaming EVO groups and local native groups, leveraging their unique strengths and existing infrastructure to deliver effective responses.
Native execution partners, such as Webedia for Evo France, are crucial in facilitating the organization of a seamless Evo event, leveraging their expertise and resources to ensure a successful collaboration. Given the Evo group’s global scope, it lacks the scale necessary to independently execute such a vast number of unveilings worldwide? I’m hesitant to tackle all the languages I’d like to attempt this endeavor successfully.
The debate surrounding the potential impact of additional Evolution Championship Series (Evo) tournaments on the prestige of the annual main event, Evo Vegas, has sparked conversation among enthusiasts. How do you envision a solution to this challenge? Perhaps a collaborative approach could yield innovative results. It’s crucial to define the parameters of the problem before developing a comprehensive strategy. By doing so, we can ensure a more effective and efficient outcome. Would it be beneficial to explore alternative perspectives or consider outside-the-box thinking? Are there tangible advantages to exploring these nuances in your approach?
While caution is always warranted, the introduction of Evo Japan has undoubtedly enhanced the prestige of the event in Las Vegas, elevating its global significance and appeal. As I scrutinize the interplay between sporting events and their supporting ecosystems, intriguing analogies emerge, drawing parallels between Evo Las Vegas and iconic events like Wimbledon or WrestleMania. Tennis enthusiasts often wonder whether the existence of a prestigious tournament circuit has diminished the allure of the sport’s crown jewel. By fostering a diverse array of individual and communal accomplishments, Wimbledon’s prestige is reinforced through these notable successes. As a passionate wrestling enthusiast, I find that the thrill of events like SummerSlam and the Royal Rumble only fuels my anticipation for the ultimate spectacle: WrestleMania.
The road to WrestleMania. As I eagerly anticipate attending Evo, the thrill of witnessing Arslan Ash’s unprecedented dominance – winning multiple championships within a year – still resonates with me. Even initially, navigating those two megacities posed significant challenges. As we venture forth to a new location in 2025 and take another stride forward in 2026, I’m genuinely enthused to witness whether anyone will manage to accomplish this feat and be showered with an extraordinary celebration that reflects the magnitude of their achievement.
The merits of selecting France and Singapore have been explicitly highlighted. Were there any international locations that failed to make the cut this time around, which we might see emerging as contenders in the future?
There are countless hidden gems scattered across the globe, harboring untold excitement and adventure opportunities; simultaneously, an astonishing multitude of passionate, dedicated fighting sports enthusiasts can be found throughout the world, each with their own unique stories to tell. Can I visit all Evo places right away? I lack the resources and capacity to tackle this project, and my limited bandwidth makes me apprehensive about attempting to handle four of these simultaneously. While some locations didn’t meet the criteria for reduction this time around, the unique aspect of Evo’s world warrior aspirations lies in their potential to re-emerge at a later date.
