What's Different About Evo 2024

Evo is the premier event event in the fighting Games community. A yearly celebration of just how fun playing fighting games was, is, and will be in the future. Orbiting around its competitive brackets lives the ecosystem of artists, cosplayers, and even developers who fly to its halls to showcase upcoming games, DLC, or just to have a great time.

But every year there are new exciting things to look forward to, and Evo 2024 is no different. In fact, it might be one of the most expanded years for Evo and pivotal one in its two decades of history.

The Biggest Evo

It has to be the first thing to be said. Evo 2024 is the largest Evo event that has ever taken place. Not only that, it is the biggest esports competition with over ten thousand registered players it not only breaks the record but sets an unbelievable bar for any, but itself, to break in years after. Last year Evo already had set a world record with its over 9000 players, only to break again a year after.

What's more, it is not just popular new titles lifting the proverbial boats; the old heads are in on the action, as Street Fighter III:  3rd Strike has over a thousand players in its bracket waiting for a chance to win what will go down in history as the largest tournament for that game.

The kings of the FGC, Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, have without a doubt elevated Evo with their presence. But a silent workhorse of the event is Guilty Gear -Strive- which continues to land a top stop in terms of player participation years into its release. Another combo of surprises in terms of player turnout is Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, which, too, has been silently building up a roaring crowd of fans.

An International Audience

Evo has always been a major hub of international fighting games. From its olden days on the West Coast to its current home in Las Vegas, it has always drawn players from the world over to compete. But Evo 2024 is on another level, with 64 countries represented in its brackets.

Among the usual suspects like the United States, Japanese, and Mexican players. Several standout nations might hint at an even more international future for the FGC. Chile, France, Puerto Rico, and Brazil were all among the top countries.

In recent years, France has risen as a hub for European competition, thanks to competitions like the Ultimate Fighting Arena. French players have been entering a renaissance of local competition, and many of them are now better prepared for international challenges.

Chile is on the same footing. Its local scene has grown massively, and it has fantastic representatives across the FGC to bring more eyes to its region of the world. Another South American standout is Brazil, whose demographic only needs a spark to develop into a thriving scene fully. That spark might come from a great Evo showcase.

A New Venue

Over the past few years, Evo has been held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, the second largest venue in Las Vegas and by now a recognizable sight by all Evo fans. But with its 2024 edition, the event is moving to what should remain a familiar location: The Las Vegas Convention Center. This was the venue of choice for the 2016 and 2017 editions of the event. However, the return is not to the same exact part of the venue.

In 2020, a $600 million renovation project for the LVCC began, part of which was for an expansion to create the West Hall, which will soon host Evo 2024. Completed in 2021, the 600,000 sq ft space will provide ample room for the competition, booths, and spectators.