Olivia Richman is a seasoned esports journalist who has worked with Inven Global, Esports Illustrated, Esports.gg, and more. As an editor and writer at Esports Insider, she loves telling unique esports stories, especially within the FGC. When not working and gaming, Olivia loves collecting Kirby plush, eating sushi, and driving her cars at the track.
The Esports World Cup has been a heavily debated event within the FGC. A segment of the esports scene that’s allergic to cringe and intoxicated by raw passion, the FGC has been largely against the EWC for quite some time. But is it actually a good thing for the fighting game scene?
The FGC prides itself on grassroots competition, but the EWC is anything but. With millions on the line for the pro players competing in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Street Fighter 6 , and Tekken 8 , it’s an entirely new scale for fighting game pros and fans.
The FGC has been fighting against growth for years now. It’s not that they don’t want to see bigger prize pools or more fans; they just want it done a certain way. An authentic way.
While the history of the FGC lies in grassroots tournaments, it knows it has to leave some of that grassroots mentality behind in order to survive . For long-time fighting game veterans – both competitors and fans – there is a leftover “beauty in the struggle” mentality that is hard to shake off. They competed for years without YouTube tutorials and without prize money. It’s a sense of pride to know you grinded for years out of pure passion.
That grassroots vibe also allows for more real moments. Juan “Hungrybox” DeBiedma passing out during a tough matchup . Fans walking up and down rows of viewers, asking who wants to bet on an upcoming match. Long-time rivals beefing on X. Locking yourself in a room to grind combos for days on end even though just a few thousand people will witness it.
But this has left the FGC in a tough spot. Grow or GTFO.
Long-time Tekken pro Jeannail “Cuddle_Core” Carter told me : “We’re trying to create something long-term and more professional. In that sense, it’s necessary. It’s unfortunate it has to happen this way. There’s a conflict that happens [with this kind of change]: part of the scene wants grassroots, but some say they need the opportunities… It’s a huge struggle. It was inevitable.”
Evo was purchased by a Saudi Arabian company, then announced seven new locations. Evo Las Vegas featured a lot of “normie” content creators in showcases . It felt like Evo was trying to shed its grassroots history and spread its wings. Meanwhile, Esports World Cup has been adding more FGC titles, and there’s even a rumor that 2XKO is next. These are events with huge productions, a corny opening ceremony , a desperation to be mainstream, and tons of money.
It doesn’t really feel like the FGC. But does that matter?
Ahead of Evo Las Vegas, Arslan Ash reiterated to Esports Insider that Evo has lost a lot of its prestige due to its desire to expand. It was meant to be one sole event, the tournament that pros strive to qualify for every year. He had previously tweeted he “missed the days” when Evo had one champion, “one moment that defined the year.”
But with so many Evo events planned, Arslan Ash said that it’s no longer his focus. Now, it’s all about the Esports World Cup.
“EWC isn’t about prestige,” Arslan Ash explain…