EVO Announces Global Regional Expansion and New Fighting Game World Championship

Evo published details of an aggressive global expansion strategy on Feb. 23, 2026, announcing plans to broaden the brand into multiple regions and to create a multi-title Fighting Game World Championship. The announcement comes after RTS, the operator of the Evolution Championship Series, became fully owned by the Qiddiya Investment Company following moves in August and September 2025.

Qiddiya’s acquisition timeline is reported differently across outlets, but Pocketgamer Biz lists the RTS purchase date as Sep. 3, 2025 and notes Qiddiya first invested in RTS in August 2025. Gamingbolt and IGN add context that Qiddiya had been a global partner earlier, with Gamingbolt stating the Saudi firm first became a global partner in 2024 and intended to extend that partnership through 2027. RTS was founded in 2022 and had shared ownership arrangements in prior years after a 2021 transaction that involved Sony and RTS acquiring Evo from its founding Cannon brothers.

RTS CEO Stuart Saw framed the handoff as continuity rather than rupture, saying, “We’re going to continue investing in the things that matter to our community, elevating and empowering members of the FGC and working diligently with our game developer partners to ensure that EVO benefits all involved parties.” Gamingbolt, citing Shacknews, also quoted Saw reflecting on the company’s connection to the event: “We are proud of our legacy with Evo that started 5 years ago.” LinkedIn posts and EventHubs reporting indicate that NODWIN Gaming sold its stake to RTS as part of the consolidation, and multiple sources say NODWIN will continue to assist Evo with marketing and some leadership functions.

Qiddiya Investment Company framed the move as strategic for its broader Vision 2030 goals. QIC’s chief strategy officer Muhannad AlDawood said the acquisition was intended to “strengthen our esports business and unlock new opportunities across the broader gaming ecosystem,” and Gamingbolt quoted him saying, “Evo is a global gaming institution, built on community, competition, and creativity” and that Qiddiya City and RTS are committed to supporting Evo’s long-term growth while respecting its heritage. Pocketgamer adds that Qiddiya City is a giga-project backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund that could house over 500,000 residents, include 59,000 buildings, and generate more than 300,000 jobs when complete.

Not all reaction has been welcoming. EventHubs reports that community figures such as Sajam have voiced intentions to boycott Saudi-backed events including Evo, and that accusations of sports washing have circulated around Qiddiya’s entertainment investments. IGN explicitly framed the situation as meaning “EVO is now effectively owned and run by the Saudi government,” a characterization that underscores the sensitivity of governance and independence questions now facing Evo.

Evo’s 2026 schedule appears unchanged in public reporting, with major tournaments slated for Tokyo, Las Vegas, and Nice, France, even as the organization says it will broaden regionally and spin up a Fighting Game World Championship. The Feb. 23 release did not include format, qualification, or governance details for the new championship, leaving the FGC and publishers looking to RTS and Qiddiya for the operational specifics that will determine whether Evo’s expansion preserves the event’s traditions while scaling its global reach.