The Evolution Championship Series (Evo), the world’s premier fighting game tournament, is now under the complete ownership of the Saudi Arabian megaproject Qiddiya, following the acquisition of its former co-owner, RTS.
A Shift in Ownership for the FGC
The fighting game community (FGC) has long prided itself on its grassroots origins, making last year’s acquisition of RTS by the Saudi-backed Qiddiya city project a major point of contention. While Evo previously shared ownership with the Indian esports organization NODWIN—which had stepped in to replace Sony in September—Qiddiya has now secured total control of the tournament series.
Despite the change in structure, Evo officials have issued a statement claiming that the tournament’s “traditions, values, and identity will remain unchanged.” The organization confirmed that its 2025 schedule remains intact, with events planned for Evo Japan in May, the flagship American tournament in June, and the newly established Evo France in October.
Leadership and Future Vision
“Under RTS ownership, Evo’s traditions, values, and identity will remain unchanged, with a continued focus on serving players, fans, and publishers at every level of the industry,” the official blog post stated. The organization also confirmed that key leadership, including RTS CEO Stuart Saw, will remain in their positions to ensure stability during the transition.
Qiddiya’s full acquisition is intended to align Evo with the megaproject’s broader goals, which include constructing a massive esports district featuring four specialized arenas. This move appears to integrate Evo into the wider strategy of Riyadh’s Esports World Cup—a project that has faced criticism for “sportswashing” and for negatively impacting long-standing, independent grassroots events.
Community Backlash and Uncertainty
The announcement has sparked significant pushback within the FGC. On platforms like Reddit, fans have expressed deep skepticism, with many declaring that the “Evo is dead” sentiment is growing. Comments have ranged from calls to “return to grassroots” to warnings that the community should prioritize local tournaments over massive, corporate-backed events.
There is also a lingering concern regarding the long-term commitment of the Saudi government to the fighting game genre. Unlike high-revenue titles such as League of Legends or Dota 2, fighting games offer a different economic profile. Many fear that if the project proves less lucrative than expected, the FGC could be marginalized or abandoned by its new corporate owners.
Ultimately, the FGC remains a resilient ecosystem that does not rely solely on a single tournament organizer. While the future of Evo faces scrutiny, the community continues to support a variety of independent majors that preserve the spirit of the competitive scene.
