EVO Japan 2023, held from March 31st through April 2nd, faced several challenges that negatively affected the experience for competitors and attendees. Technical problems with setups and organizational issues cast a shadow over the event, which brought the biggest western fighting game series to Japan.
The event proceeded smoothly during the opening rounds, but problems arose as it reached the top 8 games. Issues with monitor lag, for example, delayed the match between Punk and Momochi in the Street Fighter tournament. Punk later expressed his frustration online, calling out the laggy setup.
I spend over $2000 with my back hurts on a 16 hour flight to come to this tournament i have every right to feel how i feel when my lost is not in my control all week i have been nice even with my strive WFs pool match delayed 4 hours i say nothing but this is unacceptable
— Punk (@PunkDaGod) April 2, 2023
While there was initial speculation that these were just typical complaints, organizers confirmed that there were indeed legitimate issues with the setups. They issued an apology over Twitter for the problems experienced at EVO Japan.
Organizational issues also surfaced, as revealed by volunteer @KDE_BViz on Twitter. They cited a lack of understanding of fighting games, tournaments, and brackets among some staff members. The Tekken 7 event relied on paper brackets, introducing human error into the process. Additionally, there were difficulties in running pools and general organizational problems.
It is important to confirm that Punk and others were right, the Evo Japan 2023 stage setup negatively impacted players. It is also necessary to confirm it was the stage and stream design itself, not the INZONE monitors. We will prove that to you at other events this year. https://t.co/ds8CoYCP7k
— Rick (@TheHadou) April 3, 2023
Regarding the monitor and lag issue, sponsored monitors were in use, and some attendees suggested that rebooting the PS4 consoles might have helped. Despite the efforts of event staff, EVO Japan faced several challenges that impacted the experience for competitors.
Organizers have promised to improve for future events, and we can hope that EVO Japan’s issues this year were merely growing pains as it returns to the schedule.
In light of the issues experienced at EVO Japan 2023, the official EVO accounts have acknowledged the flawed experience and offered an apology for the “flawed competitor experience.” They have committed to working closely with their partners in Japan to align the event series with community expectations, ensuring a better experience for all involved. Despite the setbacks at this year’s event, EVO Japan has the potential to be a premier destination and experience for fighting game enthusiasts worldwide. By learning from the challenges faced this year, organizers can make the necessary improvements to ensure a successful and enjoyable EVO Japan in the future.
