Esports event company Evo announced today that it is undergoing a major shift in both ownership and partnerships. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) sold its stake in Evo to Nodwin Gaming, backed by SIE parent company Sony, and will instead become a global sponsor of the event series. These new moves herald Evo expanding its fighting game event offerings around the world.
As a sponsor, SIE says it will continue to invest in the fighting game community through its tournaments. Evo is also extending its partnership with Qiddiya through 2027, and the latter is investing in RTS, Evo’s co-owner and operator. Stuart Saw, RTS CEO, said of the partnership: “Teaming up with Qiddiya strengthens the future of RTS and what we’re building with Evo, an event that lives up to its name by driving real transformation in the fighting game community through new opportunities, deeper connections, and meaningful growth.”
According to Evo, these new partnerships will not only help the business expand to more fighting games, but they will also support community engagement and more immersive experiences. The event is making its first appearance in Europe later this year, and expanding to Singapore in 2027.
Rick Thiher, Evo general manager, said in a statement, “In recent years, Evo hosted record-setting events in the USA and Japan, and our upcoming premiere in France is already breaking European records. These latest partnerships join the ongoing support from our global and regional partners in accelerating Evo’s expansion from hosting renowned live events to serving as a nexus point for fighting game culture worldwide.”