The EVO 2025 season is shaping up to be a monumental year for the Fighting Game Community (FGC), with new events, game lineups, and expanded international reach. From the debut of the Evo Awards to flagship tournaments in Las Vegas, Japan, and beyond, here’s everything you need to know.
Evo Awards: Celebrating FGC Excellence
The season kicks off on February 15, 2025, with the inaugural Evo Awards, a first-of-its-kind event dedicated to honoring the FGC. With 21 categories, the awards range from traditional accolades like Player and Moment of the Year to fun additions like Best Button, which celebrates standout moves in specific games.
Voting is open to the community, allowing fans to have their say in shaping this exciting new tradition.
Evo Las Vegas: The Main Event
Evo Las Vegas, the centerpiece of the Evo calendar, is set to run from August 1 to 3, 2025. Registration is now live, and the main stage lineup includes:
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (SNK)
- Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising (Cygames)
- Guilty Gear -Strive- (Arc System Works)
- Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (Capcom)
- Mortal Kombat 1 (Warner Bros. Games)
- Street Fighter 6 (Capcom)
- Tekken 8 (Bandai Namco Entertainment)
- Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes (Arc System Works)
Rick Thiher, Evo’s general manager, emphasized the importance of innovation in a press release:
“Evo continues to iterate and expand on what it means to be the world’s largest fighting game festival. This year we’re excited to be seeing new games on-site and are thrilled by the extended tournament lineup, expanded arcade, new featured artists, and community programming that is bringing fighting game culture to every corner of the show.”
Extended Tournament Lineup
In addition to the main stage, Evo 2025 features an expanded tournament lineup with games like:
- Rivals of Aether II (Aether Studios)
- The King of Fighters XV (SNK)
- Blazblue Centralfiction (Arc System Works)
- Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 (Arc System Works)
Additional games will be announced, promising a lineup that caters to both competitive players and casual fans.
Evo Japan and Global Expansion
Evo is also making waves internationally:
- Evo Japan (May 9–11, 2025):
The event will feature two special five-on-five tournaments:- Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike – Fight for the Future
- Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O.
- Evo Europe (October 10–12, 2025):
Evo will debut in Nice, France, marking a significant step in bringing the FGC to a European audience. - Evo Singapore (2026):
Looking ahead, Evo has announced plans to expand into Singapore, further solidifying its presence as a global FGC powerhouse.
What Makes Evo 2025 Special?
With a mix of new games, global events, and innovative community-driven elements, Evo 2025 is poised to be the most inclusive and dynamic season yet. Titles that didn’t make the main stage will still have a chance to shine through side tournaments and community activities, ensuring that all fans and players find something to enjoy.
Conclusion
Evo 2025 is more than a tournament; it’s a celebration of the Fighting Game Community’s evolution and growth. With a stacked lineup, global expansion, and exciting new features, it promises to be a year to remember. Stay tuned for more updates as the season progresses!
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