EVO 2024 reveals new arena experience for fighting game fans

The world’s biggest fighting game tournament is back with some major upgrades, including an all-new arena experience at EVO 2024.

The Evolution Championship Series is the largest fighting game tournament in the entire world, kicking off in Las Vegas, Nevada every summer since 1996.

EVO is known for bringing together fighting game fans and pro players from across the globe for a weekend of community and competition, creating unforgettable moments that have graced the halls of fighting game history over the course of nearly thirty years.

Last year’s EVO saw the biggest number of registered players in the tournament’s entire lifespan, and even resulted in the Cannon brothers receiving the key to the city of Las Vegas — on top of getting its very own holiday, Evo Day, on August 6.

Robert Paul, EVO

Now, new details have emerged about this year’s EVO, which promises a bigger and better tournament experience for fans.

EVO 2024 shakes up world’s biggest fighting game tournament

This year, EVO will feature the Top 6 from every featured game in its lineup, which includes Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Mortal Kombat 1, Guilty Gear -Strive-, The King of Fighters XV, Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising, Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes, and a throwback in Street Fighter III: Third Strike.

Third Strike marks the second-ever throwback game to be featured at EVO following 2023’s record-breaking Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 tournament, which saw a“new franchise peak” at 1,346 registrations.

In an exciting turn of events, fans can now purchase an all-inclusive ticket to attend both the arena finals matches and the show floor, which is now open for all three days of EVO weekend — not just two, as it was in previous years, traditionally omitting finals day.

As told in a press release, attendees will have the opportunity to “craft their own Evo adventures” and hop between the arena and the show floor as many times as they’d like over the weekend.

Robert Paul, EVO

Marking a break from its usual early August dates, EVO 2024 will take place from July, 19-21. This will mark EVO’s first year at the Las Vegas Convention Center, moving away from the Mandalay Resort and Casino for a fresh start after a massive turnout last year.

EVO 2024’s show floor has also seen some big changes, including expanded show floor days, a “premier” stage for panels and game reveals, and the largest free play Arcade in EVO history, on top of a cosplay contest with special guest judges.

Special dioramas will also be available for photo opps on the show floor, as well as a gallery featuring artwork from titles throughout fighting game history.

“After a record-setting Evo in 2023, we’re excited to bring an even bigger experience to the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center for Evo 2024,” EVO’s General Manager, Rick Thiher, said in a press release. “We’re in a blessed era with multiple new fighting games being released, and Evo is excited about building global destinations for players and fans to celebrate them.”