Evo 2023: Your Ultimate Guide to the Fighting Game Event in Las Vegas

Evo 2023 is just around the corner, and fighting game enthusiasts from all over the world are gearing up for this highly anticipated event in Las Vegas. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned attendee, this comprehensive guide will provide you with all the essential information you need to have an unforgettable experience at Evo 2023.

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Registration Badge Pickup and Convention Hours

Evo 2023 participants can collect their registration badges on Thursday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, on Friday from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and on Saturday from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Day Pass tickets are also available on Thursday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Friday from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The convention welcomes attendees on Friday and Saturday from 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Venue map here.

First-timer’s Guide

What to Pack

For those attending Evo for the first time, packing strategically can enhance your overall experience. Consider your plans for the event, whether you’ll be competing in tournaments, enjoying casual setups, or exploring the local festivities. Remember to bring your own controller, charging cables, and a portable power bank to keep your devices charged throughout the event. Additionally, don’t forget essential items like hand sanitizer, a jacket, and comfortable walking shoes to ensure you’re well-prepared for the Las Vegas adventure.

Travel Plan

Planning your travel in advance can help avoid any unwanted surprises. If you’re driving, research local traffic conditions and possible construction zones. For those flying into Las Vegas, familiarize yourself with transportation options to and from the airport. Many hotels near Mandalay Bay offer convenient walkways to the convention center, ensuring a hassle-free commute.

On-site Preparations

Once you’re at Evo 2023, having clear goals will guide your choices during the event. Decide whether you want to focus on playing as many games as possible, attending industry and community panels, or exploring the vendor area and artist alley. The Main Stage will feature exciting world premieres, industry panels, exhibitions, and more. Make a checklist of everything you want to experience, and be sure to visit the various sections of the convention center accordingly.

Evolution of Evo

Record-breaking Tournament

Expectations were shattered last Sunday night as competitor registration for Evo 2023 came to a close. Two weeks ago, the event’s Street Fighter 6 bracket became the largest open-bracket fighting game tournament in Evo history, surpassing the record of 5,107 previously held by Street Fighter V’s debut at Evo 2016. Several other games followed suit, setting new franchise registration records in the final days of sign-ups. Now that the numbers are finalized, we can confirm that Evo 2023 will officially have the most bracket competitors ever at an Evo event. With that said, let’s take a closer look at some of the statistics behind the registration numbers for the tournament.

Unprecedented Growth in Competitors

In total, Evo 2023 will see 9,182 unique players compete across the event’s eight main titles, an 81.8% increase from Evo 2022’s 5,052 entrants. Over three-quarters of these competitors are contributing to Street Fighter 6’s record-breaking Evo debut, coming in at 7,061 entrants in total.

Franchise Registration Records

Guilty Gear -Strive- takes second place on the final leaderboard, achieving a new franchise peak for Guilty Gear titles at Evo with 2,481 competitors. Next up is TEKKEN 7, which sees an increase of 362 entrants compared to last year’s 1,218. Finally, claiming the fourth Sunday finals slot in the arena is our first Evo Throwback tournament: Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Against all odds, UMvC3 finishes with 1,346 entrants, setting a new franchise registration record over a decade after the game’s release.

Growing Popularity for DRAGON BALL FighterZ

In fifth place, DRAGON BALL FighterZ also sees an increase in registrations compared to last year, going from 635 players at Evo 2022 to 838 players for Evo 2023. Finally, MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA claims the seventh spot on the leaderboard and becomes the fourth game at Evo 2023 to set an all-time franchise registration record with 554 players signed up.

The Dominance of Street Fighter 6

To put the size of Evo 2023’s Street Fighter 6 bracket into perspective—if you only count the 44.2% of players who entered SF6 as their sole game, it would still be the largest event by far with 3,121 entrants. For every other main title, at least 50% of registrants also signed up for Street Fighter 6, with The King of Fighters XV seeing the most crossover at 82.4%. Meanwhile, TEKKEN 7 receives the lowest amount of crossover with SF6 at 54.3%.

Favorite Game Combinations

The average number of games entered per player across all titles is 2.3, with the most common pairings being a combination of Street Fighter 6, Guilty Gear -Strive-, and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Street Fighter 6 has the highest percentage of single-game entrants at 44.2%, followed by TEKKEN 7 at 38.5% and Mortal Kombat 11 at 30.5%.

Global Representation

In total, players from 71 different countries will be competing at Evo 2023, up from 60 last year. The majority are from North America, with 8,145 players registered from the United States, 320 from Canada, and 86 from Mexico. Japan will see the third-most representation after the United States and Canada, with 172 Japanese players making the trip to Las Vegas.

Regional Preferences

As expected, Street Fighter 6 is the most entered game across the board for every country. From there, the popularity of games varies by region, with Guilty Gear -Strive- receiving the second-highest number of entrants from countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan. King of Fighters XV sees the most popularity from Mexican competitors, while players from regions like France and Spain favor DRAGON BALL FighterZ.

Spectators and Community Showcase

Although registration for Evo 2023’s eight main games is closed, spectator passes will remain available up until the weekend of the event at evo.gg. You can also still sign up for titles in the Community Showcase up until the evening of July 23rd. Whether you’re coming to test your might against the world’s best in bracket or simply hoping to catch all the action in person, there will be tons to see and do at Evo this year. Be sure to follow Evo on Twitter to keep up with the latest news and announcements, and we hope to see you in Vegas this August 4th – 6th!

Prizing Information

With the massive number of entrants, Evo 2023 offers substantial cash prizes. Street Fighter 6’s top 16 competitors will vie for over $70,000 in prizing, while other main games will have a $25,000 total prize pool and pay out to the top 8.

Pro Circuits and World Tours

Evo 2023 is not just about glory and money but also provides players with the opportunity to earn points in multiple world tours for different games. Street Fighter 6 kicks off this year’s Capcom Pro Tour, TEKKEN 8 features as a Master+ event on the TEKKEN World Tour, and DRAGON BALL FighterZ and Guilty Gear -Strive- are part of their respective world tours.

Activities at EVO 2023

Outside Activities

While Evo 2023 offers a plethora of attractions, don’t forget that Las Vegas itself is a city of entertainment. Take some time to explore the Strip, catch a show, or indulge in shopping and dining experiences. Remember to stay safe and hydrated while enjoying the city’s offerings.

Try Out Upcoming Titles

Excitement brews as players get a chance to play upcoming titles like Mortal Kombat 1, TEKKEN 8, and more, unveiled exclusively at Evo 2023.

Evo 2023 Cosplay Contest

Fans can showcase their love for fighting games through cosplay at the Evo 2023 Cosplay Contest. Participants have the opportunity to embody their favorite characters and be part of this fantastic spectacle.

Evo 2023 Event Schedule

Plan your Evo 2023 experience wisely with the event schedule. Whether you’re attending in person or watching from home, familiarize yourself with the Friday Showcase and Streaming Schedule to ensure you catch all the action.

Friday Showcase Schedule:

1. 10:00 AM: Show opening and panel from Arc System Works.
2. 10:55 AM: Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising updates and preview tournament.
3. 12:00 PM: Guilty Gear -Strive- updates from Arc System Works.
4. 12:30 PM: Surprise developer announcement.
5. 12:40 PM: Interview with Seth Killian and Mena RD.
6. 1:10 PM: Hidden Variable Studios showcasing Skullgirls.
7. 1:45 PM: Aether Studios presenting Rivals of Aether 2 updates.
8. 2:00 PM: Reel of indie fighting game trailers.
9. 2:20 PM: Justin Wong’s Top 5 UMVC3 matches.
10. 3:00 PM: Capcom’s Street Fighter 6 developer panel.
11. 4:00 PM: Bandai Namco Entertainment presents TEKKEN 8.
12. 8:00 PM: Killer Instinct 10-Year Anniversary Invitational.

Main Stage (Streamed on Evo)

Day 1:

• 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM: Evo 2023 Special Events
• 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Top 6 – Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate

Day 2:

• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Top 6 – MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA
• 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Top 6 – THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV
• 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Top 4 – Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising
• 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Top 6 – DRAGON BALL FighterZ

Day 3:

• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Top 6 – Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
• 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Top 6 – TEKKEN 7
• 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Top 6 – Guilty Gear -Strive-
• 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Top 6 – Street Fighter 6

Stage A (Streamed on Evo 2)

Day 1:

• 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Pools R1 – DRAGON BALL FighterZ
• 3:00 – 4:00: Break
• 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Pools R1 – TEKKEN 7

Day 2:

• 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Pools R2 – TEKKEN 7
• 2:00 – 3:00 PM: Break
• 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Pools R3 – TEKKEN 7
• 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Pools R4 – TEKKEN 7
• 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Top 24 – TEKKEN 7

Stage B (Streamed on Evo 3)

Day 1:

• 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Pools R1 – THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV
• 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Break
• 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Pools R2 – THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV
• 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Top 24 – THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV

Day 2:

• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Pools R1 – DRAGON BALL FighterZ
• 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Pools R2 – DRAGON BALL FighterZ
• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Break
• 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Top 48 – DRAGON BALL FighterZ

Stage C (Streamed on Evo 4)

Day 1:

• 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Pools R1 – Street Fighter 6
• 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Break
• 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Pools R1 – Street Fighter 6

Day 2:

• 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Pools R2 – Street Fighter 6
• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Break
• 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Pools R3 – Street Fighter 6
• 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Top 24 – Street Fighter 6

Stage D (Streamed on Evo 5)

Day 1:

• 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Pools R1 – Guilty Gear -Strive-
• 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Break
• 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Pools R1 – Guilty Gear -Strive-

Day 2:

• 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Pools R2 – Guilty Gear -Strive-
• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Break
• 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Pools R3 – Guilty Gear -Strive-
• 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Top 24 – Guilty Gear -Strive-

Stage E (Streamed on Evo 6)

Day 1:

• 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Pools R1 – Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate
• 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Break
• 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Pools R2 – Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate
• 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Pools R1 – Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3

Day 2:

• 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Pools R1 – Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Break
• 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Pools R2 – Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
• 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Top 48 – Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3

Stage 7 (Streamed on Evo 7)

Day 1:

• 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Pools R1 – MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA
• 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Break
• 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Pools R2 – MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA
• 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Top 24 – MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA

Day 2:

• 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising
• 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Break
• 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Pools R3 – Street Fighter 6
• 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Pools R4 – Street Fighter 6
• 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Top 24 – Street Fighter 6

Conclusion

Evo 2023 promises to be an unparalleled celebration of the fighting game community, featuring top-notch competition, exciting announcements, and a myriad of activities for attendees. Whether you’re a hardcore competitor, a casual fan, or just curious to witness the spectacle, Evo 2023 is an event not to be missed. Join the community in Las Vegas for an unforgettable weekend of thrilling battles and passionate camaraderie.