DLC for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate may have come to an end, but that doesn't mean Nintendo is done with its all-star brawler.
In 2022, it's partnering with the Esports team 'Panda Global' to launch the "first-ever" officially licensed championship circuit in North America for Smash Ultimate and the GameCube classic, Super Smash Bros. Melee. More details about the events, schedule and prizes will be revealed in the future.
The circuit will be open to eligible players who think they "have what it takes" to compete against the best-of-the-best. Players across the US will compete in online qualifying rounds in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as well as in-person qualifiers for both Ultimate and Melee - when large-scale events return. Winners from these virtual rounds will go on to compete in the grand finals for the championship.
Players located in Canada and Mexico will also be able to enter and compete when international travel and attendance to in-person events is permissible. Players can stay up-to-date at panda.gg and Nintendo has noted in-person qualifiers may be cancelled at any time due to the pandemic.
NoA's senior director of product marketing, Bill Trinen, labelled this announcement as the "next step" in Nintendo's efforts to create a fun and welcoming competitive environment for its playerbase:
“This partnership with Panda Global is the next step in Nintendo’s efforts to create a more consistent, fun and welcoming competitive environment for our players and fans. We are proud to stand with an organization like Panda Global to celebrate and support the ever-growing competitive Super Smash Bros. community and create a space where all players can test and hone their competitive skills.”
Up for some competitive Smash in 2022? Leave a comment down below.
Comments 25
Is it just me or does this seem like a huge deal? Nintendo's officially supporting Smash tournaments outside of their own? And Melee's there too?
I'm in! Won't make it past the qualifiers, but i'll try!
Nice! I thought they were done with Smash. forever but looks like they’re still going!
Woah. Did not see that coming at all. Especially since Smash Ultimate Dev support is more or less wrapped up and also um...Melee.
Eh, can't complain.
1st requirement...players must bathe regularly or at least wear deodorant/antiperspirant.
This is so cool! It’s kinda sad it’s such a big deal tho
As a huge competitive melee fan this is HUUUGE. Nintendo had been shutting down some tournaments earlier this year (which is unheard of) and now their licensing a circuit? A whole circuit? It being with a decently big organization like Panda is dope too. Although the ruleset and price pool might be bad, how well this turns out depends on who the tournament organizer is and what the commentators make of the whole deal and what players enter of course.
@DaTrashMan and there goes all the smash players
Well this article was the most "Oh, cool...whoa wait what?" moment of my life. Very interested in this, hopefully they do this more and stop shutting down random tournaments for no good reason
@OnlyItsMeReid Yeah. I won't take a bath just for playing outside. Thanks.
This is a massive deal wow. Officially supported Ultimate is one thing but Melee too? A big day for competitive Smash all round.
Say what?!😵💫
@DaTrashMan aw man! I really wanted to have a shot at the qualifiers…..
I was disappointed after opening the article to see this was not a partnership between Nintendo and Panda Cheese.
@Marioman2020 If you are really going to go I will totally watch you match.
@PtM
Yeah, having tourneys is a way to keep the Smash going.
(They've gone actively against the community's attempts to grow Melee)
See, that's the surprising part.
They would've EASILY have it as Smash Ultimate only tournament considering the shenegans from Nintendo (no other tourney than ours policy) and how elitest the Melee fanbase can be at times. So some agreement must've gone behind the scenes to have both camps play nice.
So yeah, its a wait n see.
I think Bill Trinen has been wanting to do something like this for a long time. I wonder to what extent the harassment and assault allegations from within the community over the last few years may have helped push Nintendo toward taking control of events it can help manage safely.
I'd like to say this is a good thing but after all the complaining you seem to hear from that direction I can't say that I think they deserve it.
Remember this is doing everything on Nintendo's terms, so it's still not ideal. They could force match formats like items enabled, no stage exclusions, hazards enabled, against the wishes of the competitive community. You know similar to how they hold their invitationals.
That and the community wants to push boundaries with things like mods to improve the core of the game, or online support like with Slippi. That's what resulted in the FreeMelee movement.
Seems like a response to Smash no longer being in EVO
@DaTrashMan
The actual 1st requirement: The players must not be creeps.
No hyperbole, this is a huge win for Nintendo! MOMUNMENTAL
Lol nah I am very bad at this game
@Snatcher
Yeah!
Thanks!
I hope this means a lot. !
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