The Sony-owned esports organization announced the loss of the platform fighter in a statement on Twitter today, and appeared to blame the decision on Nintendo, which has historically tried to tightly control how its games are featured out in the wild.
After revealing that the full lineup of games to be played at Evo 2022 would be announced in a livestream on March 8 on Twitch, the organization preempted questions about Smash Bros. by saying up front that it wouldn’t be included. “We want to let you know in advance that Super Smash Bros. will not be making a return appearance,” Evo’s organizers wrote. Since 2007, we’ve seen historic Super Smash Bros. moments created at Evo’s events. We are saddened that Nintendo has chosen not to continue that legacy with us this year.”
Evo was online only last year due to the pandemic, and cancelled in 2020 over sexual misconduct allegations against the tournament’s then-CEO. Prior to that, Smash Bros. Ultimate was featured at the 2019 event. Smash Bros. Melee, and later Smash Bros. Wii U, both became major parts of the tournament series each year, leading to some competitive matches and moments that are now considered major moments in the history of esports alongside the storied legacies of fighting game series like Street Fighter and Tekken.
You act out, you get the cut. Especially if you are a higher ranking player that everyone will see and the tournament will praise this is not a surprising outcome and now that Smash has ended with its last character not properly played in this tournament it's up to the community to have their own. Not a big deal for me. This is still for-profit and only the best that have already played and won other tournaments would probably still be on top so uh the prize being cut doesn't make me change my decision at all. Now it should be a Rivals of Aether story and if not some other worthy, largely played, fighting game for glory.
