Image credit: SIE/EVO
The acquisition is a collaboration with RTS, and is returning in August with a new online-only format
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced that they have acquired the Evolution Champion Series, or also known as EVO, in collaboration with RTS, a new venture born out of Endeavor’s esports business. At the same time, the championship will be returning as Evo Online, a fully online competition set to take place in August. Talent agency Endeavor is part of a group of investors that is pumping money into the new company RTS.
Evo Online will be taking place between August 6-8 and 13-15. Entry will be free, and players from North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America will be able to compete in BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment’s Tekken 7, Capcom’s Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, Warner Bros. Games’ Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, and Arc System Works’ Guilty Gear™ -Strive- in an open format.
“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. 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." - Steven Roberts, VP, Global Competitive Gaming, SIE
“Tom and I are incredibly excited by the partnership with SIE and RTS. Both companies bring a wealth of experience and share our passion for what makes the fighting game community so great. We are looking forward to working with them to launch Evo to the next level while remaining true to our roots.” - Tony Cannon, co-founder of Evo
SIE is promising livestreams for the open qualifiers and said more details will be shared soon on EVO’s website, evo.gg.
The Evolution Championship Series started from a tournament series begun in 1996 by the Cannons, Cuellar, and Seth Killian. It became known as EVO in 2002 when the event moved to Los Angeles and crowned champions in three Capcom fighting games.
As a result of the acquisition, EVO will be operated by the recently formed joint venture between SIE and RTS. Terms of this transaction including the acquisition cost and ownership split of the joint venture are not disclosed due to contractual commitments.
