Today is the final day of the EVO 2021 Online Series all-digital event. But even as EVO’s tournament wraps up with Street Fighter 5, Skullgirls, Tekken 7, and Guilty Gear Strive championship matches, the organizers have put out the word that EVO 2022 is returning to Las Vegas in mid-summer.
The official tweet from this weekend sums up the announcement, which includes a video of vignettes that celebrate their 25 years of a fighting games-centered tournament, concluding with a confirmation of the return to in-person event in Las Vegas next year:
We have loved the competition through our online events, but nothing beats live, in-person tournaments between players from around the world.
It has been too long since we have experienced the spirit of the FGC in person together.
Evo is back in Las Vegas August 5-7 in 2022. pic.twitter.com/fHa7CSVC3Z
— EVO (@EVO) August 14, 2021
During the COVID-19 pandemic, EVO was impacted by a number of changes, which included their events hosted in an online-only format in 2021. EVO’s tournament was canceled after sexual sexual misconduct allegations arose against the event’s organizer and co-founder Joey Cuellar, who then resigned from the organization.
Earlier this year, Sony acquired EVO. In that press release, Sony said that EVO would offer “competitive gaming community on all platforms” while also saying, “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.” One of the bigger games in the line-up, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, might make a return as well (after being nixed due to missing rollback netcode to combat lag issues).
We’re certain to learn more learn more about EVO’s plans going forward for 2022 after this year’s tournament concludes.
