Blanka Ballin'

This past weekend saw Street Fighter 6 make arguably its biggest debut on the international platform to date, as players rolled up to the Daytona Beach Ocean Center for prestigious fighting game tournament CEO 2023 �Three straight days of intense, har??d-hitting, and uber-hype fighting action.

While there were plenty of excellent scrappers on deck, including Tekken 7, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Guilty Gear Strive, and The King of Fighters XV, most eyes were on Capcom's recent release, as CEO would offer one of the best opportunities yet to see how SF6 was progressing �both popularity wise and meta wise �on the big stage. When the doors opened, we got something of an answer, as just under 1,100 ??players showed out for the newest fig?hter on the block. An incredible number, to say the least.

While one would think that this huge number of players would lead to incredibly cramped timings for brackets, especially in pools, CEO 2023 also made it very clear that SF6 is one of the fastest-playing titles in series history.Many sets, including those in the Top 24, flew by at lightning pace, adding further fuel to the recent arguments that SF6 should consider going Best of Five in a tournament capacity, rather than the traditional Best of Three. I'm sure Manon is well up for that change.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=981ptSRjrKw

As proceedings drew to an end on Sunday, MenaRD walked away as the 1 vs. 1000, with their Blanka defeating Nephew's Juri to become CEO 2023 Street Fighter 6 champion. Th?e weekend gave pro-pundits and armchair quarterbacks plenty of opportunity to dissect the title in its honeymoon period, with concerns raised over the Drive Rush mechanic, and a realization that the Feet Jokes? are not funny anymore and are actually really fuckin' distracting.

But, more importantly than all of that, CEO 2023 was a sign of fine, fine health in the Fighting Game Community, with SF6 laying strong foundations for incoming fighters Mortal Kombat 1 and Tekken 8 to follow. Stalwart titles such as KoF XV, GG Strive, and DBFZ retain their popularity, while classics such as Super Street Fighter II Turbo, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and even Def Jam: Fight for New York carried ??torches for their own passionate fanbas?es.

If you missed the action, then be sure to check out the stream recordings on CEOGaming Twitch.

The incredible number of SF6 entrants bodes well for the summer season and the FGC at large, and with a slew of fantastic fighters on the market right now, with promising new tit??les en route, 2024 is set to be an absolutely stellar year for fans of the digital punch-party.

But the feet thing... It's time we all let it go. And yes, that? includes?? me.

The post Over 10??00 Street Fig??hter 6 players showed up for CEO 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

The curse of 0-2 beckons...

VSFighting, perhaps the UK'??s most prestigious fighting game tournament, will make its grand return this week for the first time in three years. Players from across the UK, Europe, and wider international communities will gather together once again in a bid to lay claim to bragging rights in some of today's (and even some of yesterday's) hottest scrappers.

The annual throwdown, which has run yearly since its inception in 2010, has been on hiatus since 2019 �impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its related lockdown rulings. The coming weekend will see the 10th iteration of the tournament, once again hosted by West Midlands FGC Electronic Dojo, return to the Millennium Point complex in Birmingham fo?r three days of sweet 'n' salty? action.

"For a community that demands face-to-face competitive action, the last two years?? have been tough, so we're super excited to finally be back," said Electronic Dojo head Justin Xavier. "We're expecting incredible things for the FGC over the next few years and we hope to put on an event th?at signals the start of a great run!"

//twitter.com/electronicdojo/status/1539925847611695105?s=20&t=RegOKD??HCGSEuw2ArBLaX9g

Arc System Works' Guilty Gear Strive, Bandai Namco's Tekken 7 and Dragon Ball FighterZ, Capcom's Street Fighter V, SNK's The King of Fighters XV, and Nexon's DNF Duel are all on deck as the main games for VSFighting X. In addition to the main roster, various national FGCs will be hosting a series of side tournaments on Capcom classics Super Street Fighter II Turbo, Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, Ultra Street Fighter IV, and fighting game tournament mainstay Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

And, if all that wasn't enough, then Bandai Namco's Soulcalibur VI and Sega's Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown will also be in attendance �as well as official demo pods hosting a build of the highly anticipated Street Fighter 6! What a lineup!

//twitter.com/StreetFighter/status/1551931278378913793?s=20&t=bCx?5EIr0dgeXP6bFvq4zYA

?VSFighting X will unquestionably be the UK's biggest fighting game gathering in some time, with over 1000 people currently signed up in a competitive or casual capacity. Fortunately, Millennium Point is a large, multi-level, spacious venue, so attendees should hopefully be well accommodated without the environment getting a little too close for comfort. This is sure to be a stellar weekend for Europe's fighting game community.

Of course, I will be in attendance, en??suring that somebody, somewhere, gets a free ride up the bracket.

VSFighting X takes place August 19-21 at Millennium Point, Birmingham. For more details on the event, including pass prices and travel information, visit the official VSFX website.

The post VSFighting X, the UK’s biggest FGC throwdown, returns this weekend appeared first on Destructoid.

One more round for Street Fighter V

??Without hyperbole, it's safe to say that Evo 2022 was a huge success �perhaps one of the greatest editions of the Evolution Championship Series ever, in fact. Returning in a physical capacity for t?he first time in years, fighting game fans were treated to hundreds of exciting matchups, some quality presentation, a fistful of exciting reveals, updates, and announcements, and some amazing in-ring action.

And the good times are set to continue, as it has been officially announced that Evo will be returning not only to western shores in 2023, but also in the east, as Evo Japan makes its own grand stage return next spring. The Japanese iteration of the event will take place at Tokyo Big Sight in Odaiba, Tokyo, for the weekend of March 31 �April 2. While a full card is yet to be announced, Arc System Works' Guilty Gear Strive, SNK's The King of Fighters XV, Bandai Namco's Tekken 7, and Capcom's Street Fighter V: Champion Edition are all confirmed to be in attendance.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9I0GG0UR-k

The appearance of SFV on the main card is something of a curiosity, given that Capcom is looking at a spring 2023 release for its successor, Street Fighter 6. The Industry's Chris Moyse is still betting on a February release, but one would imagine that such a launch date (March at the latest) would be just a tad too late to see the new fighter headline the Evo Japan card. Still, it's quite clear that Capcom will want SF6 out in plenty of ti??me to qualify for next year's Evo USA, so the predicted date ?still stands.

Evo Japan will return in March 2023. Be sure to check out all of the fighting game headlines from the past weekend over in our round-up guide right here.

The post EVO Japan will return to Tokyo March-April 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

You wanna step outside?

For the first time in a long time, the greatest fighting game players in the world, (but not me), will descend on Las Vegas for the annual throwdown that is the Evolution Championship Series, more commonly known as Evo 2022. Over the next three days, the best of the best, (but not me), will lock horns in some of the greatest fighting games currently on the market.

From Tekken 7 to Street Fighter V, Skullgirls to Granblue Fantasy: Versus, and, the game of the hour, Guilty Gear Strive, we are promised hours of intense fighting action across three days, as each game looks to crown its champion for the current EVO season. In addition, we can expect news, updates, and reveals pertaining to some of the current and upcoming fighters. Who is headed to Street Fighter 6? What surprises does GG Strive Season 2 hold? Will I ever get the hell out of Ultra Gold?

All (some)? of these questions and more will be answered over the?? next three hot summer nights.

You can find the full schedule for Evo 2022 below, complete with links to the appropriate Twitch channels. For simplicity of display, times are listed in PT timezone only. Oh, and be aware that Evo is notorious for running way off schedule, so some events are likely to start and/or run later than expected, with st??ream channels also subject to change.

Have a good weekend. And, just like Elliot Ness didn't say, Never stop?? fighting 'til t??he fight is done.

�Evo 2022 Schedule �/h2>

�Day 1 - Friday, August 5 �/h2>

Evo Special Event:
Panels, interviews, reveals, and more �10:00 PT to 19:00 PT (Main Stage)

Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate:
All Pools to Top 8 - 10:00 PT to 19:00 PT (EVO4)

Granblue Fantasy: Versus:
Round 1 Pools �10:00 PT to 17:00 PT (EVO3)

Guilty Gear Strive:
Round 1 Pools �11:00 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO2)

Tekken 7:
Round 1 Pools �18:00 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO3)

Melty Blood: Type Lumina:
Round 1 Pools �10:00 PT to 14:00 PT (EVO6)
Top 64 to Top 8 �15:00 PT to 18:00 PT (EVO6)

Skullgirls: 2nd Encore:
Round 1 Pools to Top 8 �10:00 PT to 16:00 PT (EVO7)
Finals �19:00 PT to 22:00 PT (Main Stage)

Street Fighter V: Champion Edition:
Round 1 Pools �18:00 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO5)

Dragon Ball FighterZ:
Round 1 Pools �18:00 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO6)

The King of Fighters XV:
Round 1 Pools �18:00 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO7)

Vortex Tournaments: (DNF Duel, Killer Instinct, Persona 4 Arena, and more)
All Tournaments �10:00 PT until finish.

PlayStation Evo Lounge stream:
Stream goes live 12:00 PT and runs throughout the d?ay.

�Day 2 - Saturday, August 6 �/h2>

Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate:
Finals �10:00 PT to 14:00 PT (Main Stage)

Melty Blood: Type Lumina:
Finals �14:00 PT to 17:00 PT (Main Stage)

Granblue Fantasy: Versus:
Round 2 Pools �10:00 PT to 12:00 PT (EVO4)
Top 24 �12:00 PT to 14:00 PT (EVO4)
Finals �17:00 PT to 20:00 PT (Main Stage)

Dragon Ball FighterZ:
Round 1 & 2 Pools �10:00 PT to 16:00 PT (EVO6)
Top 24 �17:00 PT to 19:00 PT (EVO6)
Finals �20:00 PT to 00:00 PT (Main Stage)

Guilty Gear Strive:
Round 1 & 2 Pools �10:00 PT to 18:00 PT (EVO2)
Top 96 �18:30 PT to 20:30 PT (EVO2)
Top 24 �21:00 PT to 23:00 PT (EVO2)

Tekken 7:
Round 1 & 2 Pools �10:00 PT to 18:00 PT (EVO3)
Top 48 �18:30 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO3)

Street Fighter V: Champion Edition:
Round 1 & 2 Pools �10:00 PT to 19:00 PT (EVO5)
Top 48 �18:30 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO5)

The King of Fighters XV:
Round 1 & 2 Pools �10:00 PT to 18:00 PT (EVO7)
Top 48 �18:30 PT to 22:00 PT (EVO7)

MultiVersus:
Top 32 & Finals �14:30 PT to 20:00 PT (EVO4)

Vortex Tournaments: (DNF Duel, Killer Instinct, Persona 4 Arena, and more)
All Tournaments �10:00 PT until finish.

PlayStation Evo Lounge stream:
Stream goes live 11:00 PT and runs throughout the da??y.

�Day 3 - Sunday, August 7 - Grand Finals �/h2>

The King of Fighters XV:
Finals �10:00 PT to 13:30 PT (Main Stage)

Tekken 7:
Finals �13:30 PT to 17:00 PT (Main Stage)

Street Fighter V: Champion Edition:
Finals �17:00 PT to 20:00 PT (Main Stage)

Guilty Gear Strive:
Finals �20:00 PT to 23:00 OT (Main Stage)

Have fun and see you next year! And by "next year" I mean, "Me in top 8 for Street Fighter 6".

The post EVO 2022 schedule: A weekend of frenzied fisticuffs, live from Las Ve??gas appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/evo-2022-schedule-panel-live-stream-fighting-game-tournament-evolution/feed/ 0 338266 //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-season-2-news-evo-panel-stream-arc-system-works/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guilty-gear-strive-season-2-news-evo-panel-stream-arc-system-works //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-season-2-news-evo-panel-stream-arc-system-works/#respond Tue, 02 Aug 2022 17:00:36 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=337603

Blame the Beasts

This week sees the Evolution Championship Series (Evo) re??turn in a physical capacity for the first time in three years. Alongside the greatest fighting game players in the world �duking it out for prize pools, trophies, and bragging rights �fans can also look forward to news, reveals, and other tidbits pertaining to the current crop of competitive scrappers.

Arc System Works, the veteran fighting game developer behind great titles such as Dragon Ball FighterZ, BlazBlue, DNF Duel, and Guilty Gear, has announced that it will be hosting a special presentation on the first day of Evo, offering tournaments attendees the opportunity to play games and bag cool merch, while audie?nces at home can enjoy exhibit??ion matches, competitions and giveaways, and various other live stream events.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y-pBgT2sQQ

The day will be highlighted by a special panel presentation looking at "The Past, Present, and Future of GuiltyGear." Headed up by series creator Daisuke Ishiwatari, the development team will discuss the quirky fight franchise �sharing stories, spotlighting unused concept material, and fielding questions from members of the GG community. The panel will conclude with non-specific "news" regarding the second season of Guilty Gear Strive, so here's hoping that we get a character reveal or two, along with a date for the previously teased crossplay beta.

The Arc System Works Guilty Gear Evo panel kicks off Friday, August 5, at 10:00 PT / 13:00 ET / 18:00 BST. You can check out the action over on the official Evo Twitch channel. The weekend promises all sorts of exciting news pertaining to t?he world of fighting games, and we'll be sure to cover as much as we can right here on Destruc??toid.

Evo 2022 takes place between August 5-7 at the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

The post Guilty Gear Strive Season 2 news coming to EV?O t?his Friday appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-season-2-news-evo-panel-stream-arc-system-works/feed/ 0 337603 //jbsgame.com/breakers-collection-live-stream-crossplay-replays-rollback-qubyte/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=breakers-collection-live-stream-crossplay-replays-rollback-qubyte //jbsgame.com/breakers-collection-live-stream-crossplay-replays-rollback-qubyte/#respond Mon, 18 Jul 2022 14:00:39 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=335304

Developer details new content for classic fighter

This past weekend, developer Qubyte Interactive took to the airwaves to offer up new and previously confirmed info for its long-time-coming release Breakers Collection, which will compile Visco Corporation's cult fighters Breakers (1996) and Breakers' Revenge (1998) for modern platforms.

Qubyte's Bruno Carvalho and Marcel Bernardi hosted the cozy little live stream on Friday evening, taking questions from fans while showing off Breakers Collection's range of additional modes and features. There was a lot of welcome transparency about the title and its release, with the developers openly stating what would and would not be a part of the retro remaster. And while Breakers Collection still did not receive its official release date, there wer??e ?a lot of exciting tidbits on offer.

Among the topics discussed, we learned that Breakers Collection supports rollback netcode, and will also feature crossplay compatibility �though it was noted that the platforms engaging in crossplay were yet to be confirmed. In regards to online play, Breakers Collection will support lobbies, and feature player profiles complete with unlockable cosmetics, such as quotes and avatars. One major reveal comes in the form of a new Team Battle Mode, which will all??ow players to take a squa?d of characters into battle.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0atxmDoJ3sE

A gallery mode will feature fan art alongside vintage marketing materials, and Breakers Collection will also include a new range of character color options. An interactive replay function (something that every modern fighter needs to look into) will let players take control of a recording at any point to experiment with new solutions to tricky mid-match encounters. Qubyte Interactive also noted that ther?e is no DLC planned, mildly hinting that post-release content is possible but unlikely. The team is planning ??to support the tournament scene in an online and offline capacity post-release. Y'all ain't ready for my Rila.

Originally announced way back in 2019, it's more than fair to say that Breakers Collection is sure taking its sweet time to come to final fruition. From this stream, however, it's clear that the compact team of developers is working hard to deliver a great release for fans of the niche scrapper. While no strict date was announced, Qubyte Interactive is confident that the title will release in 2022 in both a digital and physical capacity, with pre-orders for the physical edition now live at Strictly Limited Games.

Breakers Collection is currently in development for PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and?? Ninten?do Switch.

The post Breakers Collection ??to feature crossplay, replays, roll?back, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/breakers-collection-live-stream-crossplay-replays-rollback-qubyte/feed/ 0 335304 //jbsgame.com/street-fighter-6-evo-2022-demo-capcom-tournament/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=street-fighter-6-evo-2022-demo-capcom-tournament //jbsgame.com/street-fighter-6-evo-2022-demo-capcom-tournament/#respond Thu, 14 Jul 2022 17:30:53 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=334939

Tourney attendees can check out Capcom's latest

In news that, quite honestly, was something of an inevitability, Capcom has revealed that its recent Street Fighter 6 demo will be making the rounds at next month's Evolution (EVO) fighting game tournament. Attendees will be abl??e to check out the upcoming fighter live on?? location at Mandalay Bay.

While trial sessions of Street Fighter 6 have been mostly confined to the press and/or Capcom's best buddies, the publisher is now beginning to drip-feed access to the public at several upcoming events, such as the aforementioned EVO and the incoming San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). I would not be surprised if, much like with Street Fighter V, we don't also see some form of closed or open beta ro??lling out as we exit summer and enter the fall season.

//twitter.com/EV?O/status/1547219490508767233?s=20&t=XbidzCD5y6vvVQGjKHRCTQ

While Street Fighter fans were hit with an abundance of info (both officially and very unofficially) last month, Capcom has since gone quiet on the new fighter, with nary a new character announcement, trailer, or update to be seen. We are almost guaranteed to hear some new info at EVO, (perhaps even SDCC), hopefully in the form of a character trailer or two. In the meantime, be sure to check out our previous reports on the leaked character roster, the breakdown of Family Man Guile, and a look at the sequel's intriguing new mechanics.

EVO 2022 will take place at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay resort on the weekend of August 5-7. Tomorrow is the final day to register for the event. Street Fighter 6 launches on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox in 2023.

The post Street Fighter? 6 will be in attendance at EVO 2022 appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/street-fighter-6-evo-2022-demo-capcom-tournament/feed/ 0 334939 //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-evo-2022-tournament-entries-street-fighter-tekken-esports/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guilty-gear-strive-evo-2022-tournament-entries-street-fighter-tekken-esports //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-evo-2022-tournament-entries-street-fighter-tekken-esports/#respond Mon, 18 Apr 2022 13:00:08 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=317332

Adequately Prepared to Rock

The organizers of the Evolution Championship Series 2022 (EVO) have released an in-progress breakdown of this year's game popularity. The Top 10, listed in order of competitor entries, currently sees Arc System Works' Guilty Gear Strive? in the lead as the most-entered title of the main tournies.

As EVO returns as an offline event for the first time in two years, the organizers have decided that the schedule will be dictated by the popularity of the games on deck. So while Capcom's Street Fighter has long been the grand finale of the weekend, we could actually see something new round out the weekend's festivities �provided, of course, that Guilty Gear Strive, Tekken 7, or any other re?lease is able to pull in the most?? players.

You can check out the nine main ??games and thei??r popularity (as of April 16) in the tweet below.

//twitter.com/EVO/status/15153961246846??68931?s=20&t=GUgTtw_lAwQZL3umk3_k4w

Following on from Guilty Gear Strive's top spot, a very impressive showing is being put in by SNK's The King of Fighters XV, which currently sits at number three, even ahead of Bandai Namco tournament mainstay Tekken 7. The King of Fighters, while often in a??ttendance, is rarely one of EVO's most popular franchises, and getting the spotlight on the team-based fighter could really help draw in new players and cement its status.

NetherRealm Studios' Mortal Kombat 11 currently sits at number eight, behind niche anime fighter Melty Blood: Type Lumina and ArcSys' Granblue Fantasy: Versus. This is perhaps reflective of NRS' decision to call an end to supporting the title once it had ensured that all DLC had hit the market. While this would cause an expected drop-off for MK, seeing it resting behind cult anime scrappers and games that are years older (such as Bandai Namco's Tekken 7 and Dragon Ball FighterZ) is still surprising.

Fighting the good fight in ninth place is Autumn Games' excellent tag fighter Skullgirls: 2nd Encore, which continues to entertain hardened fighting game players with its divine visuals, an awesome score, and intense gameplay. With more updates and characters on the horizon, the cartoonish classic ??loo??ks set to run and run into 2023. Kudos.

Evo 2022 takes place August 5-7 at the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay ??Resort & Casino.

The post Guilty ?Gear Strive is currently?? leading the herd of EVO 2022 entrants appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-evo-2022-tournament-entries-street-fighter-tekken-esports/feed/ 0 317332 //jbsgame.com/arc-world-tour-2022-guilty-gear-strive-dnf-duel-esports-tournaments/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=arc-world-tour-2022-guilty-gear-strive-dnf-duel-esports-tournaments //jbsgame.com/arc-world-tour-2022-guilty-gear-strive-dnf-duel-esports-tournaments/#respond Mon, 21 Mar 2022 18:30:32 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=313111

Testament for Every Single Header from now on

As part of the past weekend's flurry of fighting game news, Arc System Works announced that its professional fighting game circuit, Arc World Tour??, will return for another round later in 2022.

While details pertaining to dates, locations, structure remain under wraps for now, the anime fighting game developer has noted that its flagship fighter, Guilty Gear Strive will be joined on the circuit by the fledgling new slugfest DNF Duel, which Arc System Works developed alongside studio Eighting. Each game w??ill of??fer up a prize pool of $100,000 each �not too shabby for a new and unproven release.

Players will compete in both games on a national and international stage, before the finalists come together for the tour's climax �The Arc World Tour Final �which is likely to take place in early 2023, as the very best players for both titles throwdown for the bragging rights of Guiltiest Gear or.. erm... DNF-est DNF'er. You can check out the finals for the ARCREVO 2021 tournament right here.

Guilty Gear Strive is available right now on PlayStation and PC. DNF Duel will launch on PlayStation and PC June 28. Get practicing, get out there, and bag ?those skulls.

The post Arc ??World Tour 2022 will include Guilty Gear Strive ??and DNF Duel appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/arc-world-tour-2022-guilty-gear-strive-dnf-duel-esports-tournaments/feed/ 0 313111 //jbsgame.com/capcom-angers-fgc-with-street-fighter-license-esports-proposal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=capcom-angers-fgc-with-street-fighter-license-esports-proposal //jbsgame.com/capcom-angers-fgc-with-street-fighter-license-esports-proposal/#respond Wed, 02 Mar 2022 19:15:34 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=310704

Taking the L

Capcom has found itself in the bad books of the competitive fighting game community (FGC) after proposing an official "licensing" scheme that could potentially be applied to all Street Fighter V (and presumably Street Fighter 6) tournaments held anywhere ?on? American soil, regardless of size.

Round 1 kicked off on February 28, when Capcom outlined its plans for the "Street Fighter V Community License Agreement". In a nutshell, the proposed plan would require all Tournament Organizers (TOs) to apply for an official license in order to run a local or national tournament on flagship fighter Street Fighter V: Champion Edition.

All TOs running SFV would be required to officially run the event under Capcom guidelines, with Capcom suggesting that securing an official registration will add several stages of legitimacy to the tournament, while offering a sense of "insurance" in regards to prize payouts and player behavior at the event itself. Capcom would also supply TOs with marketing assets with which to promote their event, with the TO having the prestige of hosting an "official" Capcom Street Fighter tournament.

//twitter.com/ultradavid/status/1498517478837612545?s=2?0&t=_CLVhdrUARCSG??dAB6HojAg

And in the blue corner

The FGC, however, does not see Capcom's plans as being altogether wholesome. Already concerned with the opening "big brother" salvo of having a multi-million dollar company over one's shoulder, the proposal also notes that all live streams, video, and photographs of any licensed events automatically become usable, royalty-free, by Capcom. Additionally, Capcom will have the righ?t to limit prize pool amounts, will ban priced ticketing for spectators, ban the sale of official merchandise on-site, and could simply deny the event altogether if it does not fall within company guidelines.

Essentially, the FGC sees the proposal as being less about player security/safety, and instead believes that Capcom is simply trying to control the American competitive Street Fighter scene on all levels, from the smallest local gathering to larger, national tournaments. In response to the proposal, some TOs have already announced that they will simply no longer host SFV tournaments at their events, focusing on other fighting ?games instead. A later statement from Capcom has done little assuage?? concerns.

This rings a bell...

It should be noted that this all sounds incredibly familiar. Around the 2017 launch of Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite �a title which Capcom was convinced was going to be the biggest competitive fighter of all time �leaked plans for MvC:I events featured a similar version of this licensing concept, alongside numerous other big-money plans for the competitive scene. This would not come to pass, of course, as MvC:I  failed to hit as a major league fighter. It seems, however, that Capcom's plans might now be dusted off for both the twilight year of Street Fighter V and �likely �the incoming Street Fighter 6.

The FGC competitive scene is far from perfect. I have personally experienced problems in regards to payo??uts, insults, and general poor tournament management. But I wholly understand the TOs concerns here. Aside from the ownership of assets and the dictatorial nature of rules and pricing, Fighting games have always been bui??lt on their communal "grassroots" mentality. Capcom's proposals arguably risk implementing control and a sense of corporate capitalism at even the smallest, most private of events.

The FGC has always been proud of its "homegrown" "street" mentality?, and while the scene certainly needs to see better moderation and player security, having the biggest fighting game publisher in the world breathing down your neck �while simultaneously handing over all of your scene's assets to them, free-of-charge, might not be the way to inspire confidence and trust between either party.

//twitter.com/jiyunaJP/status/1498520216111751172?s=20&t=_CLVhdrUARCSGdAB6Hoj??Ag

Fight for the Future

The fighting game genre is going through yet another renaissance, with Guilty Gear, The King of Fighters, Tekken, Super Smash Bros. Dragon Ball FighterZ, DNF Duel, Mortal Kombat, Breakers Revenge, and a slew of awesome indie fighters either on the near horizon or already embedded within the competitive scene. National tournaments have more than enough games to host and competitions to run. Street Fighter is not the "be-all and end-all" of the FGC. (And I'm old enough to have seen it all go down.)

I love Street Fighter, passionately and wholeheartedly. I also want to make it clear that I understand that when a TO runs a game, it is a representative of a brand, and as such publishers will wish to have a hand in how said brand is represented. All TOs need to accept responsibility for the safety, security, and control of their players, spectators, and cash-handling affairs. It is a responsibility and should be treated as such.

Still, if Capcom doesn't tread carefully with its proposals, communicating and listening to TOs while working out what is the best, fairest, least draconian, and most rewarding deal for all parties, then Street Fighter 6 could potentially observe as rough a launch as Street Fighter V �worse still, Capcom could find itself with another Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite on its ha??nds, from a competitive stance at least.

The post Capcom angers FGC with ‘Street Fighter license’ esports proposal appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/capcom-angers-fgc-with-street-fighter-license-esports-proposal/feed/ 0 310704 //jbsgame.com/smash-bros-evo-2022/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=smash-bros-evo-2022 //jbsgame.com/smash-bros-evo-2022/#respond Sat, 26 Feb 2022 22:00:58 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=310233

Guess it's Them's Fightin' Herds' time to shine

After two years of having to settle for online-only gaming tournaments, it looks like 2022 will finally be the year we get to see the best and brightest duking it out in person, _{even though this pandemic isn't anywhere close to over and could flare up again at any moment}. On March 8, the organizers behind Evo are going to announce which titles fans can expect to see at this year's shindig in Las Vegas. While we can speculate and guess on which game will show up *cough*King of Fighters XV*cough*, there is one specific fighter Evo organizers want fans to know in advance won't be appearing at this year's festivities: Super Smash Bros. In a?? st?atement issued today, the organizers confirmed the franchise will not be a part of the event.

//twitter.com/EVO/status/1497662793897721860

If any of this sounds familiar, it should. We've done this song and dance before. Many years ago, Nintendo shut down Evo streaming Super Smash Bros. Melee at the event before reversing course. Since then, it's seemed like Nintendo has had a decent relationship with Evo, allowing Melee and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to appear at the show. In 2019, Ultimate man??a?ged to bring in 3,500 participants and was the most-watched competition of the show.

But, things have changed since then. COVID-19 forced organizers to change the in-person event to an all-digital affair in 2020, which Ultimate would not be a part of, before canceling the whole shebang following sexual misconduct allegations that were levied at Evo CEO Joey Cuellar. Then, in March 2021, Evo got bought up by Sony, before ho??lding another all-online version of the tournament that again excluded Nintendo's signature fighter.

It's pretty disappointing that we won't get to see the best-selling fighting game of all time be a part of this year's show, but it does make room for some of those smaller fighters to get a chance in the spotlight. Here's to hoping Persona 4 Arena Ultimax or Phantom Breaker: Omnia can help fill that sizeable gap.

The post Smash Bros. a no-go for Evo appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/smash-bros-evo-2022/feed/ 0 310233 //jbsgame.com/theres-an-official-mario-kart-tournament-this-weekend-on-switch/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=theres-an-official-mario-kart-tournament-this-weekend-on-switch //jbsgame.com/theres-an-official-mario-kart-tournament-this-weekend-on-switch/#respond Wed, 19 Jan 2022 17:30:14 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=304785

January 21, 22, and 23

A heads-up Mario Kart tournament is one of my favorite childhood pastimes. When you absolutely needed to throw down, that was the way. Well, that or GoldenEye. But back then, Mario Kart SNES or N64 were both viable picks!

Nintendo is bringing that nostalgic spirit back this weekend with a new "Mario Kart North American Open" for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe from January 21 to January 23. US, Canada, and Mexico can participate, and there's going to be three separate tournaments: one on each day. If you're serious about this, here's the instructions straight from Nintendo:

"To enter, you must participate in the Tournament in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game ??during the Tournament Period. To access the Tournament, select the following, in order, within the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game: Online Play, Tournaments, Search by ??Code. Enter the following code to enter the in-game tournament."

It's that simple! You don't need to go anywhere or do anything special other than be available one or more of those days, from 12PM PT to 6PM PT. But the low effort involved also translates to a smaller pot. The prize is 2,500 My Nintendo Gold Points for the "top eight players" on each tournament day. So literally $25, but in "Nintendo Bux." Still, if you were going to be playing Mario Kart those days anyway, why not?!

January 2022 Mario Kart tournament times and IDs:

Tournament Day 1 ID: 524??5-8261-0475: January 21, 2022 12pm PT - 6PM PT:

Tou?rnament Day 2 ID: 3254-0350-2123: January 22, 2022 12pm PT - 6PM PT

Tournament Day 3 ID: 1114-6044-3?691: Jan?uary 23, 2022 12pm PT - 6PM PT

The post There’s an official Mario Kart tournament this weekend on Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/theres-an-official-mario-kart-tournament-this-weekend-on-switch/feed/ 0 304785 //jbsgame.com/skullgirls-black-dahlia-dlc-trailer-umbrella-ceo-hidden-variable/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=skullgirls-black-dahlia-dlc-trailer-umbrella-ceo-hidden-variable //jbsgame.com/skullgirls-black-dahlia-dlc-trailer-umbrella-ceo-hidden-variable/#respond Sun, 05 Dec 2021 19:30:28 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=298893

Death Walks in High Heels

It's taken almost 10 long, loooong years of waiting, but it's finally happening. As announced by Autumn Games this afternoon, the ice-cold assassin of the Medici Mafia, Black Dahlia, is preparing to make her terrifying presence felt in fantastic tag-team fighter Skullgirls �?the third DLC character from t?he title's Season One Pass.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxddgpJtgCE

To date, Black Dahlia has only featured as an NPC within the Skullgirls universe, but that does not mean that she hasn't made her presence fully felt. Rising through the ranks of the Medici crime family, Black Dahlia sits as the left hand of boss Lorenzo Medici, where she operates as both his bodyguard and hired gun. Dahlia is responsible for numerous heinous acts within the Skullgirls timeline, including the killing of The Fishbone Gang, the quartering of Ms. For?tune, and, most horribly of all, the cold-hearted murder of young Sienna Contiello, now resurrected as roster member Squigly.

Black Dahlia is a merciless, cruel, and morally abhorrent figure within Skullgirls' cartoonish universe. And while it goes against every fiber of my moral being, she also happens to be my favorite character. I'm so excited for her arrival.

In addition to the reveal of Black Dahlia, Autumn Games has offered up a new trailer for the incoming DLC character Umbrella, who operates at the far cuter and 200% more wholesome end of the Skullgirls spectrum. The teams at Hidden Variable and Future Club have been working exceptionally hard on this rain-based cutie-patootie, who is the younger sister of alluring roster mainstay Parasoul. Umbrella, (along with her new stage), will be joining Skullgirls early 2022.

The Skullgirls Season One Pass offers up four additional characters �including Annie of the Stars, Umbrella, Black Dahlia, and a fourth unannounced character �as well as a digital soundtrack and art compendium. It is available to purchase now on all platforms. Skullgirls 2nd Encore? is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Swi?tch.

The post Black Dahlia is FINALLY making Skullgirls an offer it can’t refuse appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/skullgirls-black-dahlia-dlc-trailer-umbrella-ceo-hidden-variable/feed/ 0 298893 //jbsgame.com/farming-simulator-is-an-esport-because-of-course-it-is-season-3-highlights/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=farming-simulator-is-an-esport-because-of-course-it-is-season-3-highlights //jbsgame.com/farming-simulator-is-an-esport-because-of-course-it-is-season-3-highlights/#respond Fri, 03 Dec 2021 23:30:52 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=298955

Giddy up, gamers

Long gone are the days where only the highest octane shooters and MOBAs make a name for themselves as esports �now, as long as any aspect of a title can be turned into a game that's competitive in nature, it too can become a spectator sport. Stardew Valley is a perfect example of this, as its creator held a tournament to complete various in-game tasks for over $40,000 in prize money. I personally love that indie games are breaking down the dudebro culture that is still pervasive in the esports scene, and now Farming Simulator has also been added to those ranks.

Apparently, this isn't news to those in the know, because the Farming Simulator League has been going strong since 2018, where the name of the game is who can stack hay bales the f??astes??t. Which like, yeah, what else did you expect it to be?

The League's third season is coming to a close this weekend, when the world championships will be taking place. The tournament will include eight different teams competi?ng for a prize pool of â‚?00,000.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaekYYSLMQI

So what exactly does a match look like? (Or is it a game? Round? Help me out, Farming Sim enthusiasts.) First the teams go through a pick-ban phase, where they can choose which pieces of equipment will be sidelined �this is similar to how the competitive League of Legends teams ban certain Champions. Next, the players take turns picking out their equipment, which is used to bale and stack hay, and then the game f?inally star?ts, where players race around the map collecting as much hay as they can and delivering it back to their barn.

It sounds simple in theory, but in practice there's a ton of strategy that goes into it, just like any other esport. There are other mechanics inv??olved, too, like power-ups and bridges, which adds even more complexity.

I was never much of a sports fan, so esports aren't really my thing either, but it's cool to see how this part of the gaming community has grown over the past few years. Farming Simulator certainly wasn't the esport that we expected, b?ut it sure as hell is the one that we deserve.

The post Farming Simulator is ??an esport, because of cours??e it is appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/farming-simulator-is-an-esport-because-of-course-it-is-season-3-highlights/feed/ 0 298955 //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-teases-dlc-character-ahead-of-red-bull-kumite/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guilty-gear-strive-teases-dlc-character-ahead-of-red-bull-kumite //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-teases-dlc-character-ahead-of-red-bull-kumite/#respond Fri, 12 Nov 2021 17:00:45 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=295272

That doesn't look like Mariah...

This week sees the bell ring on the annual fighting game tournament, Red Bull Kumite, which will see some of the world's finest fighters gather together in Las Vegas for a weekend of epic throwdown on titles such as Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, and Guilty Gear Strive. And, in regards to the latter, developer Arc System Works is teasing a brand ne?w DLC reveal!

In response to a Red Bull Kumite tweet yesterday, the anime fighting enthusiasts slid into the reply string to drop a mysterious silhouette, suggesting that the third of Guilty Gear Strive's DLC characters will be making their debut during the weekend's festivities. While little can be ascertained from the shadow itself, I have something of a feeling that it will not be odds-on favorite Mariah Carey, which is frankly heartbreaking. It also does not? look like Baike?n. Double Dang.

Guilty Gear characters are particularly notable by their wild visual design, particularly in regard to their haircuts, and thus fans are already crossing mighty-maned characters such as Jam off of their prediction list. Still, it could all be a hot swerve. We'll find out soon enough, regardless, when Arc Sys finally shines its spotlight on the new (or returning) character, who will join Goldlewis Dickinson and Jack-O Valentine as post-release combatants to the GG Strive roster.

Maybe next year, Mariah...

Red Bull Kumite takes place November 13-14 and can be viewed live over on the official Red Bull Twitch channel.

//twitter.com/ArcSystemWo?rksU/status/1458918085956550658?s=20

The post Guilty Gear Strive teases DLC character ahead of Red Bull K??umite appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strive-teases-dlc-character-ahead-of-red-bull-kumite/feed/ 0 295272 //jbsgame.com/league-of-legends-esport-tournament-competitive-yet-to-profit-riot-games/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=league-of-legends-esport-tournament-competitive-yet-to-profit-riot-games //jbsgame.com/league-of-legends-esport-tournament-competitive-yet-to-profit-riot-games/#respond Thu, 04 Nov 2021 18:30:47 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=293150

But that's just fine, says developer Riot Games

It might be one of the biggest esports scenes in the digital gaming sphere, but mega-popular MOBA League of Legends is yet to turn a profit as a sport in over 10 years of operation. That's according to comments from LoL developer Riot Games.

Speaking in an interview with The Washington Post (as reported by GamesIndustry.biz) Riot Games' head of esports John Needham openly admitted that League of Legends' competitive scene simply hasn't been profitable for the company in the decade since its initial launch. Importantly, Needham notes that profit for Riot isn't a key goal of the LoL professional league, and apparently has never been a key focus of the competitive scene at all. Moreso, the goal is to make it profitable for sponsors, teams, and the professional players themselves, in order to keep the scene attr??active and sustainable.

"We like to call ourselves the future of sport," Needham told The Washington Post. "That’s what we think we’re building [...] If I can’t make esports a great business for teams and our sponsors, then we’re not going to last long. We’re very much thinking about, 'How do ??we make the entire ecosystem profitable?'"

It doesn't take a business wiz to understand that League of Legends as a professional sport might not bring Riot Games profit directly, but is one hell of an advertisement for what has become one of the biggest video games on the planet for the best part of 10 years. Through its competitive scene and myriad tournaments, Riot Games can make announcements, show off new characters, drop rad music videos, and generally introduce players globally to the world of LoL. It might not make any profit, but the ensuing merch and in-game sales no doubt cover the spread. If Riot can ensure that the competitive scene breaks even, then the studio will be sitting pretty, at least finan??cially, for years to come.

The post A decade later, League of Lege?nds is yet to turn a profit a??s an esport appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/league-of-legends-esport-tournament-competitive-yet-to-profit-riot-games/feed/ 0 293150 //jbsgame.com/evo-2022-offline-tournament-las-vegas/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=evo-2022-offline-tournament-las-vegas //jbsgame.com/evo-2022-offline-tournament-las-vegas/#respond Mon, 16 Aug 2021 17:00:42 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=279480

Close-quarters combat

This weekend saw the toughest digital pugilists on the planet battle it out in the latest iteration of the legendary Evolution Championship Series �colloquially referred to as simply "Evo." Some of the world's best fought it out on some of the market's finest scrappers, including Bandai Namco's Tekken 7 and Dragon Ball FighterZ, Capcom's Street Fighter V, Arc System Works' Guilty Gear Strive, and Autumn Games' Skullgirls.

Evo 2021 was held in an online capacity, as the world continues to battle against the plight of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was just one of many tournaments/industry events that have been forced to switch it up as society continues in its efforts to remain safe and socially distanced wherever possible. At the conclusion of the weekend, however, it was officially announced that Evo fully expects to return to its regula??r stomping ground of Las Vegas for Evo 2022, which wil??????????????????????????l take place on the weekend of August 5-7, 2022.

"We have loved the competition through our online events, but nothing beats live, in-person tournaments between players from around the world," reads an official announcement on Twitter. "It has been too long since we ha?ve experienced the spirit of the FGC i?n person together. Evo is back in Las Vegas."

Evo 2022 will be the first in-person Evo tournament held since the brand was purchased by Sony Interactive Entertainment earlier this year �though Sony has reiterated that the purchase will not affect any allowance for rival platforms and their games. It will also be the first in-person Evo event since the controversies of 2020, when charges of sexual misconduct were leveled at the promotion's long-time CEO Joey Cuellar, leading to the cancellation of Evo 2020 entirely. As such, both SIE and the Evo board will no doubt be hoping to make a huge "comeback" in 2022, and the fighting game community should expect an event with a helluva lot of pomp and circumst???ance as Evo attempts to restamp its mark on the esports scene.

Evo 2022 is scheduled to take place August 5-7, 2022 in Las Vegas, NV. While the venue was not announced, one would? assume the event will return to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, which has hosted the tourney for many, many years.

The post Evo will return to Las Vegas in o??ffline form in August 202??2 appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/evo-2022-offline-tournament-las-vegas/feed/ 0 279480 //jbsgame.com/dreamhack-beyond-2021-steam-demos/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dreamhack-beyond-2021-steam-demos //jbsgame.com/dreamhack-beyond-2021-steam-demos/#respond Thu, 29 Jul 2021 00:00:32 +0000 //jbsgame.com/?p=276939

15 picks from the virtual festival

The PC demo scene has really been snowballing in recent years, including �but not limited to �Steam Next Fest, which gave us a chance to check out cool upcoming games like Unsighted and Terra Nil. It's not time for the next Fest yet (that's arriving in October), but there is another batch of Steam demos to sift through this week because of DreamHack Beyond, an at-home take on th??e long??-running LAN-party-turned-expo.

There are a lot of moving pieces to DreamHack Beyond, from regularly scheduled tournaments, to speedruns, to a full-on game-ified experience with NPCs to chat up and booths to visit. (I'll say this much: it's a massive step up from E3's half-baked attempt at a virtual expo, which mostly involved creating an avatar for yourself and never returning again, not for a moment.) I'm a bit late to all of those elements �DreamHack started July 24, and continues through July 31 �though really, I'm just here for these demos.

Once again, I have entirely too many tabs open.

It's simple: I ??see an intriguing thumbnail on Steam, I hover. If the ensuing screenshot doesn't betray me, I click into the game's full Steam l??isting. Here's a smattering:

• Exphobia
• Oddinary Highway
• Grotto
• APICO
• LAZR - A Clothformer
• The Outbound Ghost
• Lawn Mowing Simulator
• Despot's Game
• Wolfstride
• Mechajammer
• Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator
• Let's Build a Zoo
• Atrio: The Dark Wild
• No Longer Home
• Flippin Kaktus

Those 15 games stuck out to me among the upcoming releases, and there are demos and deals for already-released titles like Narita Boy and The Longing.

If someone could whip up a gif of the Fugitive-riffing train chase from Wrongfully Accused with the text "Steam demos??" plastered on the locomotive, that'd be swell?.

There's no guarantee that a demo will help your indie game stand out ?in the crowd, especially as more developers rally ?around these sorts of festivals, but I will always appreciate the extra effort.

The post There’s a bunch of demos on Steam right now for DreamHack Beyond appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/dreamhack-beyond-2021-steam-demos/feed/ 0 276939 //jbsgame.com/cool-archive-footage-features-1995-sega-fighting-vipers-cosplay-tournament/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cool-archive-footage-features-1995-sega-fighting-vipers-cosplay-tournament //jbsgame.com/cool-archive-footage-features-1995-sega-fighting-vipers-cosplay-tournament/#respond Sun, 09 May 2021 07:00:00 +0000 //jbsgame.com/cool-archive-footage-features-1995-sega-fighting-vipers-cosplay-tournament/

Honey Pot

A delightful piece of archival footage has surfaced on YouTube, which shows Japanese cosplayers battling it out in a 1995 tournament on Sega's Fighting Vipers. The footage appears as part of a Japanese gaming show, and was uploaded to YouTube this week by user "Kukun Kun". before being spotted by the eagle-eye of history lover John Andersen.

The brief feature, shot at the Sega GIGO center in Roppongi, Tokyo, sees various players competing on what was then Sega's hottest release. Despite Fighting Vipers' varied and over-the-top cast of characters, it appears that almost everyone participating here has chosen to don the battle armor of cutesy ??femme Honey (or "Candy" in the international release).

I was super stoked to catch a fleeting glimpse of one woman who had chosen to cosplay my favorite character, Jane, but for the most part it's quite clear who is Fighting Vipers b??reakout superstar... Oh, I don't mean Honey... I'm?? talkin' 'bout the Bad Boy rocking the obligatory leather jacket and '90s "wet look". Boy, we drowned ourselves in hair gel in those days. I hope he's still playing fighting games.

Elsewhere in the episode, one can find footage of players queuing up to purchase Dragon Quest VI on the Super Famicom, a brief preview of Street Fighter Alpha 2, and footage of a group of middle-aged adults having a Virtua Fighter 2 house part??y... what is what I call Saturday night even in?? 2021.

Thanks to Kukun Kun for shar?ing this wonderful blast from the past.

The post Cool archive footage features 1995 Sega Fighting Vipers cosplay tourna??ment appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/cool-archive-footage-features-1995-sega-fighting-vipers-cosplay-tournament/feed/ 0 266814 //jbsgame.com/evo-was-bought-by-sony-interactive-entertainment-and-rts/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=evo-was-bought-by-sony-interactive-entertainment-and-rts //jbsgame.com/evo-was-bought-by-sony-interactive-entertainment-and-rts/#respond Thu, 18 Mar 2021 19:40:00 +0000 //jbsgame.com/evo-was-bought-by-sony-interactive-entertainment-and-rts/

Evo Online 2021 will be held in mid-August and, oh yeah, Sony jointly acquired all of Evo with an esports venture called RTS

After a particularly rough 2020, the annu??al fighting game tournament Evo is still hanging in there, in part, due to Sony Interactive Entertainment. Your eyes aren't playing tricks: Sony has "jointly" acquired Evo in a partnership with RTS, "a new venture born out of Endeavor's esports business."

The surprising news was shared on Twitter to the wider fighting game community this afternoon by PlayStation and Tony and Tom Cannon, the co-founder??s of Evo, who will stay on as "key advisors."

In a message to the community, the Cannon brothers acknowledged not just the ??pandemic's impact on the long-running event, but also "the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of Evo Online involving a former team member [Joey Cuellar] who has been completely separated from our company."

"We want to reaffirm that harassment or abuse of any kind has no place within Evo or any of our future events, and we're taking ev??ery precaution to make sure members of our community will always be treated with the respect, dignity, and decency you deserve," reads the letter.

Evo Online 2021 is set for August 6–8 and August 13–15, with more details coming soon. The headliners are Guilty Gear Strive, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, and Tekken 7. For what it's worth, the Evo? site sugge??sts "more games to be announced soon."

In terms of Sony potentially blocking games – or companies pulling out of future events given the change in management – Evo's director of global business development Mark Julio says "Evo is still open to al??l platforms. The teams at PlayStation and RTS are enabling us to continue working with our community to support fighting games." Some fans aren't going to believe it until they see it.

In a statement to IGN, Nintendo said it has "enjoyed engaging with fans at past Evo tournaments" and it will "continue to assess Evo, and other opportunities, as we plan for future online and offline Super Smash Bros. tournament activity." Anyth??ing can happen when Ni??ntendo's involved. Feeling lucky?

Even with the stability SIE can lend Evo, the future of this FGC staple still seems hazy. I'm curious to see what this move mean?s for Sony's ?interest in the genre in general going forward. More deals, I suppose.

The post Evo was bought by?? Sony Interactive Entertainment and RTS appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/evo-was-bought-by-sony-interactive-entertainment-and-rts/feed/ 0 265269 //jbsgame.com/todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide-goes-back-to-basics/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide-goes-back-to-basics //jbsgame.com/todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide-goes-back-to-basics/#respond Tue, 16 Feb 2021 15:30:00 +0000 //jbsgame.com/todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide-goes-back-to-basics/

Dust Buster

So maybe you've been watching Arc System Works' recent run of Guilty Gear Strive Starter Guides, you've picked out which character you fancy, and now you're set to start collecting skulls, right? Well, before you start picking out background music for your highlight reel, you better be sure you have a grasp of the Guilty Gear mechanics. It ain't Street Fighter, and Jp. H??K into Cr. HK isn't gonna wash in GG's world.

And I should know, I'm terrible at this game.

Help is at hand for all of us. Today's Starter Guide focuses specifically on the bread-and-butter of Guilty Gear Strive: its core mechanics. The video spotlights several offensive and defensive maneuvers that are a vital part of every Guilty Gear battle. These include Dust, Instant Block, Faultless Defense, and a complex but important GG trademark: the Roman Cancel system. It looks like a lot to take in, particularly for players who may be used to more simplistic defense strategies in titles such as Street Fighter V and Mortal Kombat 11.

Guilty Gear is an ultra-hype and thoroughly enjoyable fighting game, but one of the hardest titles to simply transition to from another fighter - given the above mechanics, GG's pace, flow, and creative range of stances, guages, and specials. Add to this the fact that GG also uses numerical notation, and it can understa??ndably feel like you've "missed the boat" on this franchise. But this isn't the case. Like any video game, practice pays off, with these techniques eventually becoming second nature once given the appropriate commitment and consideration. Ultimately, your time and effort will be rewarded with one of the finest fighting experiences on the market, even if it all feels a little daunting right now.

The Guilty Gear Strive beta beings February 18 for all PS4 and PS5 players - regardless of PlayStation Plus status. Pre-order customers can get in on the action a day earlier on February 17. Guilty Gear Strive launches April 9 on PS4, PS5, and PC via Steam. As a refresher course, check out the previous Starter Guides for May & Axl Low, Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske, Chip Zanuff & Potemkin, Faust, Millia Rage, Zato-1, Ramlethal, Leo Whitefang, Nagoriyuki, and Giovanna.

And if you aren't yet? sold: This .gif from @Aby??ssOmrek

pic.twitter.com/JwHqwM7S8S

— Om-wreck (@AbyssOmrek) February 15, 2021

The post Today’s Guilty Gear Strive Starter Guide goes back to basics appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide-goes-back-to-basics/feed/ 0 264192 //jbsgame.com/giovanna-struts-her-stuff-in-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=giovanna-struts-her-stuff-in-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide //jbsgame.com/giovanna-struts-her-stuff-in-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/#respond Mon, 15 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000 //jbsgame.com/giovanna-struts-her-stuff-in-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/

The Pig is in The Poke

Now I know y'all been waiting for this one. Today's Guilty Gear Strive Starter Guide from Arc System Works gives us all our first in-depth look at a heavily hyped, brand new, and already fan favourite character, Giovanna, who will make her series debut when GG Strive launches this spring.

The sexy and stylish new fighter might look ?like she's stepped off the catwalks of Milan, but is actually, of all things, a federal agent, tasked with bodyguarding some of the highest ranking officials on the planet. Don't let that turn you away from her, as Giovanna maintains her magnetism with a super-cool attitude and a G?ood Boy by the name of Rei, a spirit wolf who compliments Giovanna's acrobatic fighting style.

Designed as a beginner-friendly character, Giovanna oddly eschews projectiles entirely, fighting with a range of familiar kick attacks. Giovanna has variants on Guile's Flash Kick, Terry Bogard's Crack Shoot and even Chun Li's Spinning Bird Kick. To prevent being zoned out, Giovanna can launch a Cannon Spike-like attack that nullifies fireballs. Without projectiles, it is up to players to pressure the opponent with an active forward progression, before mixing them up with a variety of flashy combos and throws. From this video, I'm a little concerned about Giovanna's range and options compared to other characters, but of course it's the earliest of days, so we'll see. And we WILL see, as you can guarantee a veritable circus ??of Giovannas online come beta.

The Guilty Gear Strive beta beings February 18 for all PS4 and PS5 players - regardless of PlayStation Plus status. Pre-order customers can jump in on the action a day earlier on February 17. Guilty Gear Strive launches April 9 on PS4, PS5, and PC via Steam. As a refresher course, check out the previous Starter Guides for May & Axl Low, Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske, Chip Zanuff & Potemkin, Faust, Millia Rage, Zato-1, Ramlethal, Leo Whitefang, and Nagoriyuki.

The post Gi?ovanna struts her stuff in Guilty Gear Strive Starter? Guide appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/giovanna-struts-her-stuff-in-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/feed/ 0 264148 //jbsgame.com/check-out-guilty-gear-strive-newcomer-nagoriyuki-in-todays-starter-guide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=check-out-guilty-gear-strive-newcomer-nagoriyuki-in-todays-starter-guide //jbsgame.com/check-out-guilty-gear-strive-newcomer-nagoriyuki-in-todays-starter-guide/#respond Sun, 14 Feb 2021 11:00:00 +0000 //jbsgame.com/check-out-guilty-gear-strive-newcomer-nagoriyuki-in-todays-starter-guide/

Two words: Vampire. Samurai.

Something a little bit different in today's Guilty Gear Strive Starter Guide, as Arc System Works finally raises the curtain on one of the upcoming fighter's brand new characters. Stoic, scary, as just as stylish as anyone in GG history, welcome the nightwalker - Nagoriyuki.

I could just write "Vampire Samurai" and leave it at that, but you deserve more. I'll by noting that Nagoriyuki's enormous frame dominates the battlefield, while his razor-sharp Katana affords him ridiculous reach and astonishin?g poke ability. Nagoriyuki's vampiric tendencies also come into play via his moveset, with a "Blood Gauge" that fills as he lands strikes on his opponent. Once complete, Nagoriyuki can activate a Rage mode, which extends his ?reach and damage, at the cost of several special attacks.

Essentially, an efficient Nagoriyuki player will actually become more powerful as the fight progresses, but will also be entering riskier play. This is reminiscent of bloodsucker Mira from Killer Instinct, who also traded out health and options for strength as? the fight continued. In addition to this mechanic, Nagoriyuki has shifting/short-teleport abilities, a co??mmand grab, and advancing combos. Already Nagoriyuki looks like an absolute force to be reckoned with, and will certainly make his impact felt when he debuts in spring.

The Guilty Gear Strive beta beings February 18 for all PS4 and PS5 players - regardless of PlayStation Plus status. Pre-order customers can jump in on the action a day earlier on February 17. Guilty Gear Strive launches April 9 on PS4, PS5, and PC via Steam. As a refresher course, check out the previous Starter Guides for May & Axl Low, Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske, Chip Zanuff & Potemkin, Faust, Millia Rage, Zato-1, Ramlethal, and Leo Whitefang.

The post Check out Guilty Gear Strive newcomer Nagoriyuki in today’s Starter Guide appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/check-out-guilty-gear-strive-newcomer-nagoriyuki-in-todays-starter-guide/feed/ 0 264138 //jbsgame.com/leo-whitefang-stars-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=leo-whitefang-stars-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide //jbsgame.com/leo-whitefang-stars-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/#respond Sat, 13 Feb 2021 15:00:00 +0000 //jbsgame.com/leo-whitefang-stars-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/

The real challenge is remembering the names of his moveset

Arc System Works continues its Starter Guide series for upcoming fighting game Guilty Gear Strive, offering newcomers a short look at each member of the super-cool roster of characters. Today's video focuses on the rugged, no-nonsense? warrior Leo Whitefang.

Leo Whitefang is perhaps one of the better starter characters for GG newcomers, sporting a relatively simple moveset which features attacks familiar to players brought up on more mainstream titles such as Street Fighter. With a brief charge, Leo can launch wide projectiles and a powerful anti-air attack, both of which immediately recall the iconic Sonic Boom and Flash Kick of Street Fighter's resident soldier, Guile.

Techniques such as these can help new players find their footing, before exploring Leo's more complex maneuvers, such as his "Erstes Kaltes Gestober", which allows Leo to cross-through his opponent, and his "Brynhilder Stance", a risky setup that expands Leo's attack options at the cost of some defense capabilities. Afforded strong pokes, thanks to his crucifix-shaped sword gauntlets, and with a relatively grounded attack plan, Leo can help players used to other fighters feel out Guilty Gear before they deep div??e into some of th?e title's more complex mechanics.

The Guilty Gear Strive beta beings February 18 for all PS4 and PS5 players - regardless of PlayStation Plus status. Pre-order customers can jump in on the action a day earlier on February 17. Guilty Gear Strive launches April 9 on PS4, PS5, and PC via Steam. As a refresher course, check out the previous Starter Guides for May & Axl Low, Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske, Chip Zanuff & Potemkin, Faust, Millia Rage, Zato-1, and Ramlethal.

The post Leo Whitefang stars in today’s Guilty Gear Strive Starter Guide appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/leo-whitefang-stars-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/feed/ 0 264118 //jbsgame.com/ramlethal-rips-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ramlethal-rips-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide //jbsgame.com/ramlethal-rips-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/#respond Fri, 12 Feb 2021 09:00:00 +0000 //jbsgame.com/ramlethal-rips-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/

What an amazing feat

Today's Guilty Gear Strive Starter Guide focuses on a very popular character from the GG universe, despite being a (relative) newcomer. Fresh from Arc System Works comes the newest introductory video, focusing on former Guilty Gear Xrd boss Ramlethal Valentine.

An almost emotionless vessel with terrifying, god-like powers, t?hese traits serve Ramlethal well on the battlefield, with a stoic and aloof playstyle befitting players who prefer to pick their moments. Equipped with her twin greatswords, Lucifero, Ramlethal commands the screen at mid-range, thanks to the devastating hitboxes afforded her weaponry. Ramlethal can even send out each blade as an explosive projectile, though they must be collected afterward.

While many Guilty Gear characters' gameplan often revolves around darting in for maximum rush??down damage, Ramlethal benefits a more patient player, locking out opposition with her Slash and Heavy Slash normals, before slowly pressing the opponent into a corner, where Ramlethal's screen-filling special animat??ions can overwhelm any effort to escape. What a gal. But how ArcSys didn't drop this video on the 14th I'll never know.

The Guilty Gear Strive beta beings February 18 for all PS4 and PS5 players - regardless of PlayStation Plus status. Pre-order customers can jump in on the action a day earlier on February 17. Guilty Gear Strive launches April 9 on PS4, PS5, and PC via Steam. As a refresher course, check out the previous Starter Guides for May & Axl Low, Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske, Chip Zanuff & Potemkin, Faust, Millia Rage, and Zato-1.

The post Ramlethal rips in today’s Guilty Gear Strive Starter Guide appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/ramlethal-rips-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/feed/ 0 264102 //jbsgame.com/zato-1-stars-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=zato-1-stars-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide //jbsgame.com/zato-1-stars-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/#respond Thu, 11 Feb 2021 17:30:00 +0000 //jbsgame.com/zato-1-stars-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/

Shadow Dancer

Arc System Works has released the next video in its Starter Guide series for gorgeous upcoming fighter Guilty Gear Strive. The videos aim to help new players check out the eclectic roster of characters ahead of the PS5 open bet??a, which takes place next weekend.

Today's video shines the spotlight on former Assassin's Guild leader Zato-1, not forgetting his frightening shadow alter-ego, Eddie. Zato-1 is a character who well represents GG's unique flow when compared to regular 2D fighters such as SFV. Not only capable of flight and even disappearing into the earth for extended periods, smart application of Eddie can often make Zato-1 feel unapproachable, while leaving the hapless opponent feeling a?s if they are fending off two characters simultaneously.

It is this kind of multi-status management that forms the core of Guilty Gear - often leaving both attacker and defender managing/responding to multiple immediate threats. A good Zato-??1 player can get in quick and mix-up the opponent with a combination of attacks from both Zato and Eddie, while using the latter at long range to play frustrating games of keep-away.

The Guilty Gear Strive beta beings February 18 for all PS4 and PS5 players - regardless of PlayStation Plus status. Pre-order customers can jump in on the action a day earlier on February 17. Guilty Gear Strive launches April 9 on PS4, PS5, and PC via Steam. As a refresher course, check out the previous Starter Guides for May & Axl Low, Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske, Chip Zanuff & Potemkin, Faust, and Millia Rage.

The post Zato-1 stars in today’s Guilty Gear Strive Starter Guide appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/zato-1-stars-in-todays-guilty-gear-strive-starter-guide/feed/ 0 264058 //jbsgame.com/pokemon-world-championships-cancelled-for-the-second-year-running/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pokemon-world-championships-cancelled-for-the-second-year-running //jbsgame.com/pokemon-world-championships-cancelled-for-the-second-year-running/#respond Wed, 10 Feb 2021 18:00:00 +0000 //jbsgame.com/pokemon-world-championships-cancelled-for-the-second-year-running/

London event postponed again due to COVID-19 pandemic

As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues into its second year, we are already starting to see the rescheduling of multiple events previously postponed in 2020. Among these are the Pokémon World Championships, which for a second year in a row will not be taking place this summer.

Originally scheduled to take place in London in August of 2020, The Pokémon Company decided to push the event back to August 2021 as the UK remained in the grip of the coronavirus. But in February 2021, with the pandemic continuing to severely impact worldwide industry and travel, the decision has been made to further reschedule the championships to August 2022. Sorry, Pokémon players.

While all Play! Pokémon events for the foreseeable future are all currently on hold, online tournaments such as the Pokémon Players Cup and Play! Pokémon Team Challenge will continue as scheduled, so competitive players will still have some arenas with which to test their skills. A run of "League at Home" events are also in the works, so 2021 is not going to be a completely Pokémon-free year.

2021 has already seen the Rainbow Six Siege Invitational tournament held up, while the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) recently announced that it is making plans to host E3 2021 as a series of online events. In the coming months, it seems likely that regular gaming get-togethers such as EVO, gamescom, ??PAX, and o??ther gatherings will struggle to return in 2021 in their recognized form.

The post Pokemon World Championships cancelled for the second year runn??ing appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/pokemon-world-championships-cancelled-for-the-second-year-running/feed/ 0 264022 //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strives-starter-guides-return-with-millia-rage/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=guilty-gear-strives-starter-guides-return-with-millia-rage //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strives-starter-guides-return-with-millia-rage/#respond Wed, 10 Feb 2021 14:00:00 +0000 //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strives-starter-guides-return-with-millia-rage/

Millia Dollar Baby

Arc System Works is firing up the engines once again on Guilty Gear Strive's "Starter Guide" series, giving players an opportunity to check out the skills and special abilities afforded the sexy GG Strive roster. The publisher will release a new video daily in the lead-up to the new open beta, which takes place on PS4 and PS5 the weekend of February 18.

The first video takes a look at the beautiful ex-assassin Millia Rage, who steps back into the GG ring armed with her Angra-enchanted hair. Millia's flowing up-do can not only form itself int??o a variety of razor-sharp blades, but is also capable of launching a series of wide projectiles, allowing Millia to control space with ease. Millia'??s battle plan can start high or low, courtesy of her relatively safe slide "Iron Savior" and a variety of both aerial attacks and anti-air baiting maneuvers.

The Guilty Gear Strive beta beings February 18 for all PS4 and PS5 players - regardless of PlayStation Plus status. Pre-order customers can jump in on the action a day earlier on February 17. Guilty Gear Strive launches April 9 on PS4, PS5, and PC via Steam. As a refresher course, check out the previous Starter Guides for May & Axl Low, Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske, Chip Zanuff & Potemkin, and Faust.

The post Guilty Gear Strive’s Starter Guides return with Millia Rage appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/guilty-gear-strives-starter-guides-return-with-millia-rage/feed/ 0 264016 //jbsgame.com/niantic-has-acquired-online-gaming-platform-mayhem/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=niantic-has-acquired-online-gaming-platform-mayhem //jbsgame.com/niantic-has-acquired-online-gaming-platform-mayhem/#respond Wed, 06 Jan 2021 20:30:00 +0000 //jbsgame.com/niantic-has-acquired-online-gaming-platform-mayhem/

GG?

Niantic has announced that it has acquired community gaming platform Mayhem.gg with an eye to boosting the social and global aspects of Pokémon GO and future community-driven titles. As of this writing the terms of the sale, including co??st,? are undisclosed.

Mayhem was founded in 2017 as a downloadable platform with which gaming communities could organize tournaments, team leagues, and other events – not unlike esports platform Smash.gg, which itself was purchased by Microsoft last month. However, quite unlike the Smash.gg acquisition, it appears that Mayhem's team will be directly integrated into Niantic, and as such will be ending its status a??s a community league gaming platform.

"Through our games, many Niantic explorers have found incredible meaning in playing and interacting with other explorers," said Ni??antic CEO John Hanke in an official blog post. "They create memories, they ma?ke friends, and they end up with some amazing stories to tell. We look forward to working together with Mayhem to amplify those moments, bring our player community closer together, and make a positive impact on the world."

The Mayhem acquisition is the seventh of such major purchases by Niantic, who has seen nought but incredible success since the launch of Pokémon GO. The? community-based mobile title continues to draw bank-busting revenue, having pulled in over $4 billion since its launch back in 2016.

The post Niantic has acquired online gaming ??platform Mayhem appeared first on Destructoid.

]]> //jbsgame.com/niantic-has-acquired-online-gaming-platform-mayhem/feed/ 0 261977 //jbsgame.com/terrifying-shirtless-lord-tachanka-rework-is-now-live-in-rainbow-six-siege/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=terrifying-shirtless-lord-tachanka-rework-is-now-live-in-rainbow-six-siege //jbsgame.com/terrifying-shirtless-lord-tachanka-rework-is-now-live-in-rainbow-six-siege/#respond Wed, 18 Nov 2020 16:00:00 +0000 //jbsgame.com/terrifying-shirtless-lord-tachanka-rework-is-now-live-in-rainbow-six-siege/

Get your affairs in order...

Well, we all had a good run. We attacked, we defended, we all did our very best. Sometimes you're the spawn-peeker, sometimes you're? the spawn-peekie. Either way, it is now over for all of us, from Bronze rank through Champion. Kiss your loved ones goodbye and prepare for The Last Ri??de...

...The Tachanka rework is now live in Rainbow Six Siege.

That's right, after years of meandering in one spot - bucket on his head, turret in his hand - Lord Tachanka is fi??nally going mobile. The devastating Spetnasz Defender can now carry his fearsome turret anywhere he damn well pleases, spraying death from the hip like it was a mere Super Soaker... A Super Soaker full of bu??llets... Like a gun.

If that wasn't enough, Ubisoft has done the unthinkable and handed Tachanka a secondary. And it's only a hell-spitting grenade launcher, one capable of banking shots off of walls and doors, l??aying waste to any team of Attackers foolish enough to encroaching upon our?? man's objective. Frankly, I don't know why we don't all just stop playing right now.

To put the final exclamation point on the Lord's return, he's only gone and taken his fucking shirt off. So immovably confident in his devastating and unstoppable new abilities, Tachanka has decided his iconic inch-thick armor is now purely for chumps, and has repla?ced it wi?th inch-thicc skin.

Ask not f??or whom the bell tolls; it tolls ?for thee.

The post Terrifying, shirtless Lord Tachanka rework is no?w live in Rainbow Six Siege appeared first on Destructoid.

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