Sony Sells Its EVO Ownership Stake, Remains On As Sponsor

Sony's tenure as co-owner of the Evolution Championship Series has come to an end. SIE will sell its position to Nodwin Gaming, an India-based esports group. NODWIN operates in over 20 locations, and oversees out of 15 countries. Sony originally acquired EVO in 2021, co-owning it alongside RTS. This will mark the second time in four years EVO's rights will change hands. Sony will remain a global sponsor.

“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 SVP and Head of Global Partner Development & Relations at Sony Interactive Entertainment Phil Rosenberg in an official press release. “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 Co-Founder and Managing Director Akshat Rathee also chimed in, regarding the partnership.

“Evo was built by a team whose authenticity and passion for the fighting game community are unmatched. We will continue SIE’s great work and honor the legacy of everyone who has made it what it is today, while opening the door for a new generation to experience the spirit of Evo.”

With Sony remaining a heavy sponsor, this leaves fans speculating if PlayStation hardware will remain the tournament standard when it comes to console representation. While the PlayStation 5 is the market leader in hardware, there has been a history of lag issues and technical malfunctions that has led to a heavy impact on competitive play in fighting games. The fighting game community has pushed for PC to be a viable option, bu those odds remain highly unlikely. Smash Bros. Ultimate, once a staple at the tournament, likely won't return, as Nintendo pulled its platform fighter from EVO not too much longer after Sony's acquisition. Perhaps that will change, time will tell.

SOURCE: EVO