EVO 2023 LINEUP REVEALED: STREET FIGHTER 6 MAKES DEBUT, ULTIMATE MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3 RETURNS, EVO MOMENTS AND MORE
The Evolution Championship Series, or Evo, is a world-renowned annual fighting game tournament that features top-level players from around the world competing for the title of champion. The tournament has been held annually since 2002, and it is set to return in 2023 after being canceled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2023 roster for this year’s Evo fighting game tournament has been revealed, and it includes the debut of Capcom’s Street Fighter 6 in the wake of its official launch this June and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 making a high-profile return. A total of eight fighting games will be featured in competition at Evo 2023.
I. The Lineup
The following are the eight games that will be featured in competition at Evo 2023, along with their platform and publisher:
- Street Fighter 6 — PS4 (Capcom)
- Guilty Gear Strive — PS4 (Arc System Works)
- Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate — PS4 (Warner Bros. Games)
- Tekken 7 — PS4 (BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment)
- The King of Fighters XV — PS4 (SNK)
- Melty Blood Type Lumina — PS4 (Lasengle)
- Dragon Ball FighterZ — PS4 (BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment)
- Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 — PS4 (Capcom)
“We are excited to once again feature an incredible lineup of fighting games at Evo 2023 and are thrilled to be including our first Evo Throwback tournament with Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3,” said Evo general manager Rick Thiher in a statement. “This year we’re establishing $25,000 minimum prize pools for each tournament in our lineup, and continuing our efforts to improve the Evo event experience for players and fans.”
II. About EVO
With its genesis in Northern California arcade tournaments dating back to 1996, the Evolution Championship Series, or Evo, was officially founded in 2002. Since then, it has grown to become the premier fighting game tournament in the world, attracting top-level players and fans from around the globe.
III. EVO Moments
One of the things that makes Evo such an exciting event for fighting game fans is the potential for unforgettable moments. Over the years, Evo has seen some incredible matches and impressive feats of skill that have gone down in gaming history. Here are just a few of the most memorable EVO moments from past tournaments:
- EVO Moment 37: Often considered one of the greatest moments in fighting game history, EVO Moment 37 features Daigo Umehara pulling off an incredible comeback against Justin Wong in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike at EVO 2004.
- Infiltration’s Dominance: Infiltration’s incredible run in Street Fighter IV at EVO 2012 is another moment that many fans remember fondly. Infiltration won the tournament without losing a single game, dominating his opponents with his precise play and expert knowledge of the game.
- “It’s Mahvel, Baby!”: Commentator Yipes’ famous catchphrase has become synonymous with the Marvel vs. Capcom series, and it all started at EVO 2011. Yipes’ excitement and enthusiasm for the game helped to create an unforgettable moment for fans of the series.
- SonicFox’s Three-Peat: In recent years, SonicFox has become one of the most dominant fighting game players in the world. At EVO 2018, SonicFox won three different tournaments, including Dragon Ball FighterZ, Injustice 2, and Skullgirls.
As we look ahead to EVO 2023, fans are no doubt excited to see what new and epic EVO moments will be created. Will we see another EVO Moment 37? Will a new player emerge to dominate the competition? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: EVO 2023 is sure to be an unforgettable event for fighting game fans.
IV. Are You Ready?
Evo 2023 is scheduled to hit Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on August 4–6, 2023. The return of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and the debut of Street Fighter 6 promise to make this year’s tournament one of the most exciting yet. Fighting game fans from around the world will be tuning in to see who emerges as the champion of Evo 2023.
All events at Evo in 2023 will now have a $25,000 minimum prize pool, which has never been done before. The Evo Showcase will be back at Mandalay Bay on Friday, August 4, featuring thrilling panels, music showcases, highlighted exhibitions, and community highlights to celebrate the incredible history of competitive fighting games. This year, on-site museums, like the Arcade Stick Museum, will grow. The Indie Fighting Game Gallery is also returning with new titles being featured.
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