Sony Interactive Entertainment made a surprise move in the esports world today. The company, in partnership with new esports venture RTS, has acquired the renowned Evolution Championship Series, more commonly known as Evo. The announcement came via a message from Evo's Twitter account:

A message to our community. For more information visit https://t.co/6JHZCsJsXr pic.twitter.com/uj0NKRW30m

— Evo (@Evo) March 18, 2021

Sony also released a statement via their website, in which they expressed their enthusiasm at the acquisition and took the opportunity to announce Evo Online 2021, which will take place on August 6th-8th, and 13th-15th. The tournament will have free entry for gamers in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America to compete. Sony also took the time to assure fans and competitors that they remain committed to keeping Evo as authentic as possible, despite the new ownership.

Our collective team is laser-focused on one mission: preserving the authenticity of Evo for the fighting game community and finding creative ways, alongside our fans, to grow the tournament and make its events and broadcasts more fun, engaging and accessible than ever. At its core, Evo will remain what it has always been: an open-format competition that gives fighting game fans from different countries a chance to connect, test their skills, and forge new friendships.

Regarding Sony's partner in this acquisition, RTS, the statement shed some light on the fledgling company which is helmed by Stuart Saw.

Sony Interactive Entertainment has teamed up with RTS to acquire Evo through a joint venture partnership. 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.

Sony also confirmed that Evo co-founders Tom and Tony Cannon will remain involved with the tournament in an advisory role. In another tweet from Mark Julio, director of business development for Evo, it was confirmed that despite the partial ownership by Sony, Evo would continue to be open to all platforms going forward.

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

Source

 

[Deleted User]

RIP Evo

 

[Viri]

It wasn't, that was the players

I think he meant this.
https://www.thewrap.com/joey-cuellar-evo-joey-cuellar-suspended-misconduct-underage-boys/

Funny thing is, even without knowing he's a child molester, he already looks like a guy who molests little boys.

 

[duwen]

"We're not using EVO anymore. Peace" - Nintendo

We can only hope - keep the fucking kids (and the kid fucking) out of FGT tournies, and a roster of true fighting games!

 

[Foxi4]

Maybe now party games will be removed from the roster.

 

[Deleted member 546149]

View attachment 252782​

Sony Interactive Entertainment made a surprise move in the esports world today. The company, in partnership with new esports venture RTS, has acquired the renowned Evolution Championship Series, more commonly known as Evo. The announcement came via a message from Evo's Twitter account:

https://twitter.com/EVO/status/1372639787270639616

Sony also released a statement via their website, in which they expressed their enthusiasm at the acquisition and took the opportunity to announce Evo Online 2021, which will take place on August 6th-8th, and 13th-15th. The tournament will have free entry for gamers in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America to compete. Sony also took the time to assure fans and competitors that they remain committed to keeping Evo as authentic as possible, despite the new ownership.



Regarding Sony's partner in this acquisition, RTS, the statement shed some light on the fledgling company which is helmed by Stuart Saw.



Sony also confirmed that Evo co-founders Tom and Tony Cannon will remain involved with the tournament in an advisory role. In another tweet from Mark Julio, director of business development for Evo, it was confirmed that despite the partial ownership by Sony, Evo would continue to be open to all platforms going forward.

https://twitter.com/MarkMan23/status/1372640707492519941

Source

I seriously hate it when a company acquires an esports company to make them look better

 

[64bitmodels]

We can only hope - keep the fucking kids (and the kid fucking) out of FGT tournies, and a roster of true fighting games!

Maybe now party games will be removed from the roster.

B R U H

 

[SilverWah]

I thought most of the fighting game community was on pc(or maybe I think that just because I mainly discuss fighting games with other pc gamers)

Most of the players prefer playing on PC over here at Europe but it varies a bit.
Some US people prefer playing online on console but definitely stick to PC.
Japan/Asia are big on console play and PCs aren't populair at all over there so they love console netplay the most.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

However I'm still glad the Cannon brothers are involved and don't get kicked to the side.
They seem to be smart guys so hopefully this years EVO Online will go smoothly without any more drama.

 

[raxadian]

You Evo have a PS5 or you Evo can't play.

 

[Daggot]

I see this as an improvement over what we may have gotten if those sexual abuse scandals weren't uncovered. Riot Games hired the co-founder of EVO Tom Cannon and he's been working on Project L(Riot Games unreleased fighting game). IIRC all signs a while back pointed to EVO being used as an advertising event for Riot Games Project L at some point and it never sat right with me. Tom and his brother are still key advisors for this event(as they should be) but I hope this throws a wrench in that marketing plan and all to come later.

 

[anhminh]

So Playstation All-Stars Royal Battle for Evo?