EVO, the largest annual fighting game tournament, is now completely owned by RTS, a company that manages gaming creators and builds brands. RTS is owned by Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) of Saudi Arabia. Previously, EVO was co-owned by RTS and Nodwin Gaming, an Indian gaming and events company. However, according to Shacknews, Nodwin will still help with EVO’s marketing and leadership despite the change in ownership.
RTS CEO Stuart Saw recently celebrated five years of partnership with Evo, stating the company remains committed to supporting the fighting game community. They plan to keep investing in what matters most to players, helping to grow and support the FGC, and working closely with game developers to make Evo a success for everyone involved.
As a big EVO fan, I was a little worried when I heard about the investment from QIC, the fund for Qiddiya City. But it sounds like things are staying on track! The official announcement says all the major tournaments are still planned for Tokyo, Las Vegas, and Nice in 2026, which is awesome. And even better, RTS, the company running EVO, has promised that the core of what makes EVO special – focusing on players, fans, and game publishers – won’t change at all. That’s a huge relief!
Evo is a major international gaming event known for its strong community, competitive spirit, and creative energy, according to Muhannad AlDawood, chief strategy officer at QIC. By partnering with RTS and Qiddiya City, QIC aims to help Evo grow while preserving its history and importance to the fighting game world. This investment is about ensuring the future of competitive gaming and protecting what makes Evo unique.
RTS initially became involved with EVO in 2021 when it joined PlayStation in buying the event. PlayStation later sold its share to Nodwin Gaming in August 2025. Around the same time, QIC first invested in RTS and eventually bought the entire company.
The fighting game community has strongly criticized this deal, with many people on Reddit accusing Saudi Arabia of “sportswashing” – trying to improve its public image by hosting large events. Some feel this deal harms the spirit of the community, with one person suggesting that fans should focus on supporting smaller, local tournaments instead, as these are often the heart of fighting game scenes.
Many fighting game fans are also advocating for increased support for other large tournaments, both in terms of players competing and people watching. CEO Gaming (formerly Community Effort Orlando) and Combo Breaker are just two examples of the many events they’re highlighting.
One Redditor encouraged people to support local fighting game communities. They were already planning to leave Evo, a major tournament, because they dislike how commercial it’s become. This user hopes fighting games can return to being a simple hobby – just playing and enjoying the games you love, offering constructive feedback, and letting the community grow naturally.
Saudi Arabia recently made another significant investment in gaming by continuing to acquire shares in Electronic Arts (EA).
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2026-02-20 19:11