RTS, a company with Saudi backing, has finalized its full acquisition of the EVO fighting game tournament series. This move sees former co-owner Nodwin Gaming depart, leaving RTS as the sole proprietor.
According to reports from Shacknews, Nodwin Gaming will continue to support EVO with marketing efforts, and certain leadership personnel will retain their positions. Despite this, RTS, a talent management and brand consulting firm initially co-founded by streamer Pokimane, will assume complete operational control.
RTS CEO Stuart Saw issued a statement, expressing pride in the company’s five-year involvement with Evo. Saw affirmed a commitment to ongoing investment in community priorities, supporting the FGC, and collaborating with game developer partners to ensure EVO’s success for all stakeholders.
The evolving ownership structure of EVO has been a significant topic and source of apprehension within the fighting game community for several years. In 2021, PlayStation acquired EVO in conjunction with RTS, prompting fan worries about the potential impact on titles from rival first-party developers like Nintendo. As a result, Nintendo withdrew Smash Bros. from EVO 2022. Subsequently, last August, Sony divested its ownership share in EVO to Nodwin Gaming, an Indian gaming and events company, establishing Nodwin and RTS as co-owners.
Concurrently, the Saudi Arabian investment firm Qiddiya became involved. Qiddiya Investment Company oversees a large-scale entertainment and tourism development in Saudi Arabia, focused on creating a technologically advanced city for sports, gaming, and entertainment, funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). Initially, Qiddiya announced an investment in RTS and a commitment to partner with EVO until 2027. However, within a month, Qiddiya completed its full acquisition of RTS, which effectively places EVO under the ownership and operation of the Saudi government.
This development has generated considerable negative feedback from many within the fighting game community. Comments on r/Fighters, such as “Evo is dead. Go to your locals,” and “And this, everybody, is why supporting grassroots locals should still be the priority over pushing big tentpole tournaments,” reflect this sentiment. Critics primarily point to Saudi Arabia’s record of human rights abuses, including recent incidents and those linked to PIF-funded projects. Concerns also extend to the country’s treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals, a significant demographic within the fighting game community, raising safety issues for potential attendees. Prominent figures, including
and
, had already announced their non-attendance at EVO last year, coinciding with the initial reports of Saudi involvement.
