The year 2025 marks a historic milestone in the fighting game scene: for the first time, the Evolution Championship Series is coming to Europe, more precisely to Nice. The new edition of EVO, the world-renowned fighting game tournament usually held under the spotlights of Las Vegas and Tokyo, is finally crossing the Atlantic to offer European fans a brand-new experience. Discover all the info about EVO 2025!
Introduction to EVO 2025
What is EVO?
The Evolution Championship Series is the largest fighting game tournament in the world. Created in 2002, this prestigious competition gathers every year the best versus fighting players from all over the globe — mixing professional competitors and passionate amateurs alike.
The history and significance of the tournament
Since the 2000s, EVO has seen remarkable growth, becoming the Olympic Games of video games. The 2024 edition in Las Vegas set a new record with 10,224 participants from 63 countries, surpassing the previous peak of 9,833 players in 2016 — a testament to the growing enthusiasm for competitive gaming.
From France, two champions have made EVO history: Olivier “Luffy” Hay, winner of Ultra Street Fighter IV in 2014, and Marwan “Wawa” Berthe, champion of Dragon Ball FighterZ in 2022.
Dates, Venue, and Organization of EVO 2025
Official EVO 2025 Schedule
The EVO 2025 circuit will be held in three major stages throughout the year:
- EVO Japan: May 9–11, 2025 at Tokyo Big Sight;
- EVO Las Vegas: August 1–3, 2025 at the Convention Center West Hall;
- EVO France: October 10–12, 2025 at the Palais des Expositions - Nice Acropolis.
EVO France 2025: Venue and Participation Details
The EVO France 2025 tournament will be held at the Palais des Expositions - Nice Acropolis, marking the competition’s first event in Europe and providing a prestigious venue for high-level matches.
Practical information:
- Online registration via start.gg/evo-france;
- Access badges available on-site starting the day before the event;
- Total prize pool: €100,000;
- Rewards distributed among the top 8 finalists in each fighting game.
Games Featured at EVO 2025
The EVO 2025 selection includes official tournaments for 6 major fighting games:
- Street Fighter 6: the undisputed leader of fighting games returns once again for this edition;
- Tekken 8: the new title in the franchise that has thrilled the community since launch is also part of EVO 2025;
- Guilty Gear -Strive-: entering its fourth season with new characters, it remains in the official lineup;
- Dragon Ball FighterZ: making a comeback after being absent in EVO 2024, much to the delight of the French community who saw Wawa win the world title in 2022;
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising: already present last year, the game retains its place in the lineup;
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves: the big newcomer of this edition! Released on April 24, 2025, the game gives players enough time to train ahead of the tournament.
Also read: How to choose your arcade stick for Street Fighter 6?
Players to Watch
The French versus fighting scene includes several talents who will benefit from the home advantage in October 2025. Valmaster, Mister Crimson, and Kusanagi are among the national hopefuls on Street Fighter 6.
The American champions from the 2024 edition, Punk (Street Fighter 6) and Nitro (Guilty Gear -Strive-), will also be defending their titles at EVO 2025.
Among other international stars to watch:
- Arslan Ash, five-time EVO champion on Tekken, the absolute reference for the franchise;
- Knee and JDCR, two Korean masters of Tekken 8;
- Kazunoko and GO1, two Japanese virtuosos of fighting games.
EVO has a reputation for revealing new talent, so other players may also surprise us! The accessibility of Nice is likely to bring in new European players making their debut in international-level competition.
How to Follow EVO 2025?
The event is fully covered via the official platforms: Twitch EVO and YouTube EVO, offering full (re)broadcasts and highlight recaps. EVO’s social media also shares exclusive clips and post-match analysis.
In France, MGG broadcasts the tournaments with French commentary.
Nacon, Official Event Partner
Nacon, a specialist in versus fighting products, becomes the official Global Partner of EVO 2025, enhancing the on-site experience for attendees. EVO 2025 visitors will be able to try out the brand’s latest innovations, such as:
- Daija Arcade Stick, the arcade stick praised by multiple awards;
- Revolution X Unlimited, the controller with integrated LCD screen;
- RIG headsets, offering optimal audio performance for competitors.
The RIG headsets are now the official EVO 2025 headsets, equipping thousands of gaming stations at all three events: EVO Japan, EVO Las Vegas, and EVO France.
Nice will soon host the first European edition of EVO, confirming France as a prime destination for video game enthusiasts and offering a top-tier event for versus fighting fans. Whether you're a seasoned competitor or a passionate spectator, don’t miss this milestone in European gaming history from October 10 to 12, 2025.
Want to test your fighting skills like the champions? Grab an arcade stick and start training from home!
