Evo 2024: The Biggest Fighting Game Event of the Year Delivers Exciting Announcements

The Evolution Championship Series, commonly known as Evo, is the premier fighting game tournament event, and this year's edition, Evo 2024, did not disappoint. Held this past weekend, the event was a hub of activity, with fighting game developers showcasing a wealth of new titles, DLC characters, and crossover collaborations. From SNK's surprise release of a classic crossover game to Capcom's highly anticipated Street Fighter 6 DLC, Evo 2024 was a true celebration of the fighting game genre.

Unveiling the Future of Fighting Games: Evo 2024's Biggest Reveals

SNK Brings Back the Classics and Teases New Horizons

SNK, the renowned developer behind iconic franchises like The King of Fighters and Samurai Shodown, made a significant splash at Evo 2024. The company surprised attendees by shadow-dropping SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos, a remastered version of the classic crossover fighting game, for PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4. This unexpected release was accompanied by the announcement of two new DLC characters, Vice and Mature, coming to The King of Fighters XV later this year.But SNK's presence at Evo 2024 went beyond just revisiting the past. The company also teased its future plans, revealing that it is working on the first new Art of Fighting game since 1996's Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior. Additionally, SNK is venturing into the realm of action RPGs with a Samurai Shodown-themed title, showcasing the company's ambition to expand its reach beyond the fighting game genre.

Capcom Brings the Iconic Terry Bogard to Street Fighter 6

Capcom, the powerhouse behind the Street Fighter franchise, was a central focus at Evo 2024. The highly anticipated Street Fighter 6 took center stage, and the event provided the first glimpse of the game's next DLC character – Terry Bogard from the Fatal Fury series. This crossover addition is sure to excite fans of both Capcom and SNK's iconic fighting game lineups.While a release date for the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics was not announced, the game was playable at Evo 2024, and the reception from attendees seems to have been positive. Capcom also hinted at the possibility of more crossover fighting games in the future, with producer Shjuhei Matsumoto expressing the company's openness to exploring such collaborations.

Arc System Works Expands the Guilty Gear Universe and Unveils a New Anime-Inspired Fighter

Arc System Works, the renowned developer behind the Guilty Gear and Under Night In-Birth franchises, made several exciting announcements at Evo 2024. The most surprising reveal was the news that Guilty Gear Strive will be crossing over with the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime, with Lucy from the Netflix series joining the game as a guest character in 2025. Additionally, the Guilty Gear Season 4 season pass will introduce Queen Dizzy, Venom, and Unika as new playable fighters.Arc System Works also provided a closer look at Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact, a fighting game based on the popular anime. The game's opening movie was revealed, and players were introduced to Meruem as a playable character. This anime-inspired title is set to launch later this year on PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.

Bandai Namco Brings Back a Tekken Legend

Tekken 8, another highly anticipated fighting game, had a strong presence at Evo 2024. The event brought the announcement that the iconic Tekken character Heihachi Mishima will be joining the roster as a DLC character later this year. His addition will also come with a free story mode chapter, further expanding the game's narrative.Bandai Namco also revealed that Tekken 8 will feature Nike-branded content, adding a touch of real-world style to the game's already impressive visuals and character designs.

WB Games Expands the MultiVersus Roster and Introduces Ranked Mode

The crossover fighting game MultiVersus, developed by Player First Games and published by WB Games, was another highlight of Evo 2024. The event provided a deep dive into the game's upcoming Season 2, which will introduce Samurai Jack as a new playable character, followed by Beetlejuice later in the season. Additionally, a new stage based on the Warner Bros. Water Tower will be added to the game.One of the most significant announcements for MultiVersus was the introduction of a Ranked Mode, which will support both 1v1 and 2v2 matches, allowing players to compete at the highest levels of the game.

Cygames Expands the Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Roster

Cygames, the developer behind the Granblue Fantasy series, used Evo 2024 to reveal the next DLC character for Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. The new fighter, named Versusia, is described as an "amalgamation of the divine and mortal" and will arrive on August 20 alongside the game's Version 1.50 update. This update will bring the Grand Bruise! game mode, a new online lobby minigame, a new stage, Grand Master Rank, new story episodes, and balance adjustments.

Riot Games Showcases 2XKO and Confirms No Crossover Plans

Riot Games' 2XKO, the company's upcoming fighting game, was playable at Evo 2024, and the developer live-streamed gameplay of the title throughout the event. While no major announcements, such as a release date, were made, attendees were able to get a better understanding of how 2XKO plays in action. Riot Games also confirmed that all 2XKO characters will be earnable through gameplay, and that there are currently no plans to add crossover fighters to the game.

Indie Developers Showcase New Fighters and Expansions

The indie fighting game scene was also well-represented at Evo 2024. Aether Studios revealed that Orcane will be one of the 10 characters available in the launch roster of Rivals 2, with all post-launch fighters being free. Meanwhile, Maximum Entertainment introduced Damkina as a new character in its 2v2 fighting game Diesel Legacy: The Brazen Age.