This time next year the Evo World Championship will host their first ever European event -- and they're calling their shots early! The tournament announced a lineup of six titles to be contested next October, but Mortal Kombat 1 is not among them. Read on for details:
The reveal of game selections is a regular ritual for Evo events, and per tradition the six titles were announced today via X, formerly Twitter. Mainstays Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 were front and center, with Guilty Gear Strive, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising offering a smattering of on-going and popular selections.
At first glance the absence of Mortal Kombat 1 may appear like a shocking omission, but in addition to struggles with public perception over quality and content, the most recent reboot of the American fighting game series ranked seventh in sign-ups at July's 2024 Evo World Championship.
With only 645 players signed to compete in Las Vegas; MK1 was 140 behind sixth placed Under Night In-Birth II Sis: Celes, and a distant 4,620 players short of tournament powerhouse Street Fighter 6. Even 1999's Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike far outpaced the latest MK with its 25th anniversary inclusion, garnering 1,101 sign-ups. MK1 was still within its first year since release.
Mortal Kombat may have fallen outside the six game window, but there have been some changes for the French selections: Dragon Ball FighterZ is a returning choice, having missed the July major, ostensibly wrapping up its lifespan and lacking the downloadable content outlook of the other titles. That said, the game continues to draw upon an enthusiastic global fanbase, who are unlikely to have been lured away by the less traditional, competitive fighting mechanics of the recently released Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero, and may be energized by new animated series Dragon Ball DAIMA.
SNK's franchise revival, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, is the unproven long shot of the group. To be released next April, it's the return of a classic SNK fighting series, with a roster of seventeen confirmed returning & new characters, in addition to a Street Fighter crossover that will include Chun-Li and Ken Masters. SNK's Terry Bogard is already in Street Fighter 6, with Mai Shiranui coming Winter 2025.
[Related Article: Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns Launch Trailer]
Mortal Kombat has enjoyed a steady presence with the organized competitive tournament since its inclusion at the 2011 World Championship, but its first brush with omission came with the original Evo 2020 announcement. The event was subsequently cancelled due to administrative controversy, allowing Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate to return triumphantly under new owners as a key title in the pandemic-era online event.
A lot can happen in twelve months and we will continue to watch the plans for the inaugural Evo France in 2025. What do you think about the lineup as it is? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and start your own conversation in the Mortal Kombat 1 category.
