Evo 2025: Surprise Upsets, Fewer Entrants, and a New Challenger to Guilty Gear
Las Vegas, NV
Evo 2025 closed out with intensity, drama, and a surprising reshuffle in the fighting game hierarchy. While Street Fighter 6 retained its dominant position in total entrants, the biggest surprise came from Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, which overtook long-standing staple Guilty Gear Strive in the number of competitors.
With 8,541 unique entrants and 13,892 bracket entries, Evo 2025 was smaller than last year’s event—but no less impactful.
🎮 Top Main Event Entry Numbers
| Game | Entrants |
|---|---|
| 🥇 Street Fighter 6 | 4,228 |
| 🥈 Tekken 8 | 2,521 |
| 🥉 Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves | 1,576 |
| 🏅 Guilty Gear Strive | 1,508 |
| Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising | 938 |
| Marvel vs. Capcom 2 | 570 |
| Under Night In-Birth II: Sys:Celes | 547 |
| Mortal Kombat 1 | 377 |
Data: Evo 2025 Official Entrants Report
Voices from the Bracket
“Fatal Fury felt electric—fresh mechanics and tight footsies. It deserved the numbers.”
— Ryan “Roarbox” Kim, Top 8 Finalist (Fatal Fury)
“The drop in Guilty Gear numbers was expected. We’ve had three years of meta. Fatal Fury came in hot.”
— Emily “NEMUI” Walker, Evo 2022 GG Champion
“Tekken was still strong, but losing over 2,000 players was a wake-up call. We need more offline hype in the lead-up.”
— Lee “GodLegs” Sung-Min, Tekken Coach & Analyst
Evo Participation Trends: 2024 vs 2025
| Year | Unique Players | Total Entries | Top Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ~10,050 | ~16,000 | Street Fighter 6 |
| 2025 | 8,541 | 13,892 | Street Fighter 6 |
Observation: 15% drop in participants YoY, with international attendance down significantly due to rising travel costs and the rise of regional Evos (France, Japan).
Side & Surprise Titles: Small Pools, Big Moments
Rivals of Aether 2, though part of the extended lineup, impressed with 358 entrants, nearly matching Mortal Kombat 1. Capcom vs SNK 2 and BlazBlue Centralfiction also saw modest but passionate turnouts, reflecting the staying power of legacy communities.
Evo’s Global Strategy Faces a Crossroads
With Evo France 2025 and a newly expanded Evo Japan now offering global alternatives, Evo Las Vegas may no longer be the undisputed centerpiece. That decentralization could continue to affect U.S.-based entry counts—while opening new doors for regional champions.
Final Thoughts
Evo 2025 may have been smaller in size, but the shifts in popularity and emerging scene stars point to a dynamic future for fighting games. With Fatal Fury now a proven main stage draw and community favorites like Rivals 2 pushing upward, the competitive ecosystem is clearly in transition.
🗨️ “We may be seeing the end of the old guard era. Evo 2025 was a passing of the torch.”
— Sarah “Modchip” Reyes, Evo Commentator & Host
Next Up: Evo Japan 2026 — Tokyo Dome, March 14–16
For a complete breakdown of Evo 2025 results, brackets, and replays, visit evo.gg.
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