The Evolution Championship Series (EVO) is arguably the biggest esports event for Street Fighter 5, Tekken 7, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The event is regarded with respect across the flighting game community, and some great moments have been captured at EVO tournaments. Heated rivalries, clutch saves, underdog wins, and more can be expected every year. Many fans are especially excited about EVO 2022 because it will be the first in-person tournament in two years, yet Super Smash Bros. has been removed from the EVO lineup, and it's no surprise why.
Despite its prestige and passionate community, there's been a great deal of negative press surrounding EVO over the past couple of years - particularly within the competitive Super Smash Bros. scene. Moreover, Nintendo has always been possessive of its intellectual properties, going as far as shutting down Nintendo-inspired fan projects. As Nintendo struggles to maintain control of its games' reputations, the future of organized competitions that host Super Smash Bros. is uncertain.
Sony's Acquisition of EVO
Nintendo's withdrawal of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate from the event happened approximately a year after Sony bought EVO in March 2021, leading to skepticism from fans about the inclusion of non-PlayStation titles at the tournament. Sony's PR team assured audiences the event would continue to include the games it always had. Sony's wording in the announcement regarding Super Smash Bros.' absence from EVO 2022 also makes it seem like Nintendo is responsible for this decision. Nintendo made a statement wishing Sony luck with the acquisition after it happened, but stating plainly that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate would receive its own tournament hosted by the developer. It seems as though Sony's association with EVO was discouraging for Nintendo.
Misconduct Allegations in the EVO and Super Smash Bros. Communities
Another argument for Nintendo pulling Super Smash Bros. Ultimate from EVO is the event's negative publicity regarding sexual assault allegations. The first of these controversies came to light in July 2020 when EVO's then-CEO Joey Cuellar was accused of predatory behavior toward underage boys in the mid-to-late 1990s. EVO consequently removed him as CEO. These incidents make no direct mention of Super Smash Bros., but Nintendo probably wants to avoid any association with the organizers of EVO, even if Cuellar has been removed from the event.
In the weeks following Cuellar's removal, allegations of sexual assault directed at competitive Super Smash Bros. players also began to surface. A broad range of predatory behavior was spoken of by various individuals, from emotional exploitation to patterned grooming and explicit abuse. Since the players accused of sexual assault had built their entire online platforms and followings around Super Smash Bros., it makes sense that Nintendo would want to reclaim the community in some capacity to create a safer environment for minors.
While it's disappointing to see Super Smash Bros. absent in one of the biggest competitive game circuits, fans will most likely be able to see Smash players battle in its own tournament. Nintendo will likely continue to do whatever it takes to keep its name unsullied and its brands as clean as possible. If that means creating an environment that's more welcoming, less discriminatory, and overall safer for fans, positive feedback from the community should follow. In addition to this, it may very well be that Nintendo is taking steps to move away from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate now that its content updates have been completed. Director Masahiro Sakurai has said he'll be stepping away from the series, so the future of Super Smash Bros. at competitive tournaments is something to watch.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now, exclusively on Nintendo Switch.