Nintendo Removes Super Smash Bros. From EVO 2022

Nintendo will not allow Super Smash Bros. to appear at Evo this year. The fighting game tourney broke the news on their Twitter page after announcing their upcoming live stream on March 8. “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,” said Evo. “In the future, we hope to once again celebrate the Super Smash Bros. community alongside them.”

The news caused many Nintendo and Smash Bros. fans to become outraged at Nintendo, which eventually started controversy within the Nintendo and Smash community. Some are furious and hurt at Nintendo's decision to pull the popular fighting game from Evo because Smash Bros. has become such an integral part of their lives for so long. They believe the company doesn’t care about their fans and feel they deserve better treatment from the Big N after constantly supporting their products and games over the years.

However, some feel Nintendo made the right call due to the massive sexual allegation scandals that plagued both the Smash community and Evo itself two years ago. Furthermore, they believe Nintendo’s withdrawal of Smash was inevitable since Sony now owns Evo, and how Nintendo is partnering with PandaGlobal to host their own Smash Bros. tournaments in the future.

Regardless of Nintendo’s decision, it will be sad to see Super Smash Bros. go. The franchise’s legacy has made a significant impact on Evo and gaming as a whole. Some of Evo’s most iconic moments were from Smash competitions such as Mango’s legendary win in 2013, Jeffery Axe Williamson and his Pikachu in 2014, and Hungrybox’s heart-stopping run in 2016. It will surely be missed.