Evo 2020 Canceled, But An Online Replacement Is Coming

The Evo 2020 fighting game tournament is now the latest event to cancel over coronavirus concerns. Event organizers announced the cancellation with a promise of ticket refunds and some form of online event to happen instead. The tournament had been planned to start in late July in Las Vegas and is considered the most prestigious fighting game event in the world.

"Due to COVID-19, we are sadly canceling Evo 2020 at Mandalay Bay and refunding all purchased tickets," the statement reads. "But to keep the Evo spirit alive, we're bringing the event online this summer. More information coming soon! The health and well-being of our community is our highest priority. We hope everyone stays safe during this time."

The announcement didn't note specifics about the summer event or how it will be scored. Since Evo is a high-level fighting tournament for professionals, face-to-face play is usually preferred to reduce lag and ensure competitive matchups. The rules may need to shift this year to account for players participating from home with their own internet connections.

Similarly, the Pokemon World Championships recently announced it would be canceled and all tournament progress earned toward this year's championships would roll over into next year's. Blizzard said it's "too early" to tell if BlizzCon, which usually hosts various esports tournaments for Blizzard's games, will go forward in November.

Several other industry events have announced cancellations or shifted their plans to digital events. Those include the cancellation of E3 2020, and Gamescom and GDC both going digital. GameSpot will be hosting its own summer event called Play For All, which will cover industry news, previews, and interviews--all to help raise money for at-risk groups.