Saudi Arabia’s RTS now has complete possession over Evo

Qiddiya Metropolis-owned esports firm RTS has taken full possession of the Evolution Championship Collection (Evo), the world’s largest and most prestigious preventing recreation event.

With Sony and NODWIN Gaming totally out of the image, the FGC wonders what this newest change will imply for Evo. Will Tremendous Smash Bros. lastly return to the occasion?

In August 2025, NODWIN Gaming, a former Evo co-owner, turned a majority shareholder after buying Sony’s stake. On the time, NODWIN acknowledged: “We are going to proceed [Sony Interactive Entertainment’s] nice work and honour the legacy of everybody who has made it what it’s at the moment, whereas opening the door for a brand new era to expertise the spirit of Evo.”

The next month, it was introduced that Qiddiya Metropolis, a Saudi Arabian megaproject, had acquired RTS, which operates Evo.

“This milestone paves the way in which for setting new heights within the evolution of Evo towards attaining the aspirations of the preventing recreation neighborhood,” Chief Technique Officer Muhannad Aldawood mentioned on LinkedIn.

Now, Qiddiya Metropolis-owned RTS has taken full and full possession over Evo.

With NODWIN Gaming and Sony fully out, RTS has full management over the Evolution Championship Collection model and occasions.

“We’re pleased with our legacy with Evo that began 5 years in the past,” RTS CEO Stuart Noticed mentioned in a press launch. “We’re going to proceed investing within the issues that matter to our neighborhood, elevating and empowering members of the FGC and dealing diligently with our recreation developer companions to make sure that EVO advantages all concerned events.”

Qiddiya Metropolis is run by the Qiddiya Funding Firm (QIC). This makes Evo one other Saudi Arabian-owned occasion within the esports scene, as Saudi Arabian firms proceed to have a bigger presence within the house. On prime of Saudi Arabia’s Esports World Cup Basis organising the Esports World Cup and Esports Nations Cup and partnering with esports organisations, Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Video games Group has additionally been wanting into buying MOONTON, the developer behind Cell Legends: Bang Bang.

Regardless of backlash from the esports neighborhood over the continued presence of Saudi Arabian firms within the trade, RTS has promised to maintain Evo’s ‘values and identification’ the identical. The nation’s controversies and heavy presence within the esports trade has continued to garner frustration. ESL was acquired by Saudi Arabia in 2022, main some avid gamers to consider the nation is behind ESL Affect’s shutdown resulting from continued frustration.

It’s unclear what this current possession replace will imply for Evo. It might imply increasing into extra nations, creating a bigger FGC circuit. It might imply Tremendous Smash Bros. Melee and Final might return to the occasion, because it was allegedly resulting from Sony’s involvement that Nintendo minimize ties.

With Evo Japan and Evo Vegas arising within the subsequent few months, the FGC will see firsthand if there are any quick modifications.