Could this herald the return of Smash?
Sony has sold its ownership stake in fighting game competitive event Evo to Indian gaming and events company Nodwin Gaming, leaving Nodwin and RTS as joint owners.
This is the second time Evo has changed hands in four years. It was previously purchased jointly by Sony and RTS (a talent management and brand consulting company founded by streamer Pokimane) in 2021.
Sony is not fully departing Evo. It will be a global sponsor of Evo through 2028, and is one of the backers of Nodwin Gaming. “When SIE acquired Evo alongside RTS in 2021, our goal was to help the Evo community grow and spotlight the skills and passion of fighting game fans on a global stage,” said Phil Rosenberg, SVP and Head of Global Partner Development & Relations at Sony Interactive Entertainment. “As SIE transitions to become an Evo sponsor, the momentum for Evo has never been stronger, following a successful Las Vegas event and upcoming expansion to new regions. We look forward to supporting the continued growth of Evo globally.”
Nodwin Gaming may be an unfamiliar name to many. It’s a gaming and events company based in India that was founded in 2015, and has led or facilitated events such as Dreamhack India, Comic Con India, Valorant Challengers South Asia, various PUBG Mobile championships, and others.
At the same time, Saudia Arabian company Qiddiya, which became a global partner of Evo last year, has announced it is investing in RTS and will remain a global Evo partner through 2027. Qiddiya is the Saudi investment company behind a massive entertainment and tourism project in the country, which aims to build a high-tech city centered around sports, gaming, and entertainment.
This change has some Evo fans wondering what the future will hold for Evo. Under Sony’s ownership, PlayStation 5 was featured prominently at the event each year, including with demos for Sony games such as Astro Bot and Marvel Tokon. However, Sony’s ownership also came simultaneous with Nintendo dropping out of the event and no longer permitting Super Smash Bros. to be played there. Some are wondering if the departure of Nintendo’s console rival means Smash Bros. may make a comeback in future years.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
