After years of indifference to Super Smash Bros. tournament scene, Nintendo of America has announced a new partnership that will see the launch of the first officially licensed version. Smash tournament series.
The news came through a surprise press release on Thursday morning. Nintendo has teamed up with Panda Global, a Detroit-based e-sports brand, to create an unnamed championship lap for players of both. Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Switch and its 2001 GameCube predecessor Super Smash Bros. Super Smash Bros.
“This partnership with Panda Global is the next step in Nintendo’s efforts to create a more consistent, fun, and friendly competitive environment for our players and fans,” said Bill Trinen, director. Nintendo of America’s product marketing manager, wrote in a press release. “We are proud to be side by side with an organization like Panda Global to celebrate and support the growing competition Super Smash Bros. community and create a space where all players can test and hone their competitive skills. ”
The unnamed circuit is currently planned to be limited to the United States, with Canadian and Mexican players eligible to participate after “Panda Global and Nintendo argue that international travel and attendance at events direct is allowed.” Meanwhile, players from the US will compete online by qualifying.
Nintendo and Panda Global have yet to reveal the competitive circuit’s potential events, schedules, and prizes, but promise to do so “in the future.”
This is a surprising face from Nintendo in general, the company has a tradition of organizing Smash long arm span tournament circuit. At best, it’s largely overlooked scene; worst of all, it shuts down major tournaments with cease and desist orders, as it did Big house online in November 2020, reportedly because they plan to use a fan-modified version Super Smash Bros. Super Smash Bros..
That’s a big edge from what many of Nintendo’s contemporaries were doing. Example: WB Games, publisher of the last three games in Mortal Kombat , has been heavily involved in the tournament scene for the whole of 2015 MKX and in 2019 MK11, to the extent that many stops along its circuit would have been confirmed if not organized by the WB itself.
Crushed, in comparison, there’s a huge competitive scene, but it’s one that uses a bunch of informal rules and modifications to play Smash very different from what Nintendo originally intended. SmashThe Competition Rules Set is actually the largest user-generated mod in the game, sometimes disabling many of the game’s features. exploit glitch, and even intentionally damage hardware to enable what could well be a completely different game.
That could explain Nintendo’s lack of interest in professional players Smash circuitry, largely developed without Nintendo’s input. That, however, created a culture with little formal oversight, resulting in a wide range of allegation of sexual misconduct will shake the scene in 2020.
With Smash Ultimate officially completed, it’s a strange but fitting moment for Nintendo to step in and get to grips with organizing the scene. Although Nintendo has yet to make any announcements about their professional approach Smash the circuit will work, it is safe to assume it will work at least regarding age restrictions for players and attendees.
