Evo France has already shattered records to become single largest fighting game tournament in the history of the European Union as competitors from around the globe gather to throw down in Nice.
Evo France kicks off from October 10-12 at the Palais des Expositions in Nice. This is the very first Evo to take place in Europe, following in the footsteps of its predecessors Evo Las Vegas and Evo Japan.
The Evolution Championship Series was born from a series of fighting game tournaments run out of arcades in the 90s by community legends Tom and Tony Cannon. Since then, Evo Las Vegas has become the premier stop for fighting game fans and players to compete and commune with each other.
Over the years, Evo has expanded to include tournaments in other regions besides the United States, starting Evo Japan in 2018 and Evo France in 2025. The excitement for Evo France’s very first iteration is already palpable, and it’s showing in the number of player registrations.
Evo France unites 93 countries in record-breaking tournament
As per a press release from Evo provided to Dexerto, Evo France is already the largest fighting game tournament in the history of the European Union. 93 countries are being represented in the tournament, with players hailing from Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Africa.
This is an eye-popping number, especially considering that Evo Las Vegas 2024 – the largest Evo there’s ever been – saw a record-breaking 63 countries represented at that tournament.
As expected, France has the most players registered to compete in the event, boasting a whopping 1,948 entrance. The UK comes in second with 584 players. Germany lands in third place with 286, Spain with 231, Italy with 183, the United States with 128, the Netherlands with 121, Poland with 85, and Belgium with 76.
“While we knew France would be an incredible host for Evo’s first European event, members of our community showing up to compete from 93 countries is still an awe-inspiring response,” Rick Thiher, Evo’s General Manager, said in a statement.
“In recent years, fighting game communities have reaffirmed their cultural impact worldwide, and Evo is committed to showcasing their ongoing growth when we return to Nice in 2026.”
Players will be competing in a lineup of seven different fighting games, including Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Guilty Gear Strive, Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and even Dragon Ball FighterZ.
This isn’t the first time Evo has made history; in 2024, Evo Las Vegas broke records as the world’s biggest esports event ever, with 10,224 registered players from 63 countries taking part in the competition.
Evo is set to expand even further in 2026 with Evo Singapore, marking the tournament series’ first-ever event in Southeast Asia.
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