The EVO Japan 2019 Lineup has been announced and there are two notable exclusions. Super Smash Bros Ultimate and DragonBall Fighter Z will not be played at EVO Japan 2019.
The #EVOJAPAN2019 main titles are as follows:
・TEKKEN 7
・BLAZBLUE CROSS TAG BATTLE
・SOULCALIBUR VI
・STREET FIGHTER V ARCADE EDITION
・THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV
・GUILTY GEAR Xrd REV 2We will be working with the gaming communities to support the other titles not included.
— EVO (@EVO) December 14, 2018
Smash Ultimate and DBFZ have reportedly been barred from the lineup by Nintendo Japan and Namco Bandai/TOEI respectively. The reports came from esports consultant Rob Breslau (Slasher).
EVO Japan games have been announced with the striking absence of Smash Ultimate and Dragon Ball FighterZ.
According to my sources and cryptic tweets, the rights holders for both games told EVO they could not be used. Nintendo of Japan for Smash, and Namco Bandai/Toei for DBFZ.
— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) December 14, 2018
Notably, Super Smash Bros Melee and 4 are also missing. Seeing no Super Smash Bros titles in the main lineup is strange for an EVO tournament, although there may be smaller competitions running throughout the event.
Smash Ultimate Barred from EVO Japan 2019 Lineup
Despite the enormous amount of hype around Super Smash Bros Ultimate, we won’t get to see the top players compete in the title at EVO Japan 2019.
This appears to be due to Nintendo of Japan blocking the rights to it from EVO. It seems like a strange move considering the enormous viewership the FGC event attracts.
DBFZ's rights holders issues may lead to the DBFZ World Tour being in jeopardy for 2019 or likely less esports events overall. Unclear why Nintendo of Japan declined.
Once again poor decisions from Japan. EVO is where both games have had their highest viewership of all time.
— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) December 14, 2018
Notably, the game isn’t barred from EVO 2019 in the US. This may signify that Nintendo of Japan plans to hold their own Smash Ultimate tournaments in the country.
Meanwhile, fans can see pro Smash Ultimate players in action at the first Smash Bros Ultimate Major tournament, Don’t Park on the Grass 2018.
DragonBall FighterZ Barred from EVO Japan 2019 Lineup
DragonBall FighterZ is also missing from EVO Japan 2019. It’s a downer for many fighting game fans with the game being one of the biggest fighting esports.
Again, this doesn’t seem to be a move on EVO’s part. DBFZ had more entrants than any other game at EVO 2018 and pulled its highest viewership.
At least on DBFZ's end, this is looking to be much more of a problem with Dragonball rights owner Toei and what they will allow Bandai Namco to do with DBFZ. There should be major concern for DBFZ entering 2019, esports related or not.
— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) December 15, 2018
EVO Japan 2019 Date and Lineup
Despite some major games missing, there’ll still be tons of action for fighting game fans at EVO Japan 2019. The event runs from February 15 – 17 2019.
Main titles include Tekken 7, BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle, SoulCalibur VI, Street Fighter V Arcade Edition, The King of Fighters XIV, and Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2.
The event will be held at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center and broadcast on Twitch.