Danny Shnorhokian has been attending Evo since long before it was even called that. What began in the late ’90s as a small tournament called Battle by the Bay—focused solely on Street Fighter—has since evolved into the world’s largest and most prestigious fighting game event. Decades later, the annual gathering’s main stage now showcases everything from legendary franchises like Mortal Kombat to newer contenders like the anime fighter Granblue Fantasy Versus. Yet, Street Fighter remains the crown jewel of every Evo, with its legacy deeply intertwined with the passion and fandom that has drawn thousands of fighting game players to the Nevada desert each summer. This legacy extends to the Marvel vs. Capcom series, which will return to Evo’s main stage for the first time in 15 years in 2025. It all began with the iconic X-Men vs. Street Fighter, released in arcades in 1996.
For many, the entry point to this flashy pixel-art superhero crossover was Marvel vs. Capcom 2. This is where Shnorhokian, a Southern California native, got his start in the early 2000s, even placing in the Top 8 at Evo 2008. But it was the original X-Men vs. Street Fighter that captured his heart due to its even more chaotic and “broken” mechanics, inspiring him to organize annual side tournaments for it at Evo.
“Back in 2005, when Evo moved to Las Vegas, they started allowing players like me to run side tournaments if you had the resources,” Shnorhokian explained in an email to Kotaku. Back then, organizing such a tournament meant securing the original arcade cabinets on-site, a logistical challenge, especially as newer fighting games were transitioning to consoles. “I teamed up with a player named Dogface, and we organized a tournament with about 30 entrants. People from all over the country, and even Japan, participated. From 2005 to 2010, I helped run these tournaments every year.”
However, as Evo grew larger and more mainstream, interest in smaller, classic arcade fighters like X-Men vs. Street Fighter started to fade. Players turned to online platforms like Fightcade to keep the spirit of these games alive. But in 2024, Shnorhokian was able to revive X-Men vs. Street Fighter at Evo, thanks to Capcom’s release of the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, which made the game available on modern platforms. “Now, thankfully, we can run it on Steam, which makes things a lot easier for everyone,” he said. “It has all three versions of X-Men vs. Street Fighter, and players can use their own controllers. Plus, people can practice at home and online. A $50 game is much easier to get your hands on than a $300 arcade board.”
Evo has changed a lot over the years, including being sold to Sony amid a sexual misconduct scandal during the pandemic. Though fan favorites like Super Smash Bros. are no longer part of the event, a greater focus on retro games has allowed titles that ignited players’ imaginations in the arcades of the past to make a return. In 2024, Street Fighter 3: Third Strike returned to Evo, and in 2025, it’s Marvel vs. Capcom 2’s turn. But the heart of Evo remains in the dozens of side tournaments and after-hours meetups where the spirit of the old arcade culture truly thrives.
“Sponsored teams, players competing on national television for millions of dollars—that’s something I never could have imagined,” Shnorhokian reflected. “Back when I placed Top 8 at Evo, I got a $50 prize, and that felt HUGE. Now it’s a whole different world. But even with all the changes, I still love Evo. It’s a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, meet players from around the world, and share our love of fighting games. Honestly, even if it was just two people, I’d still organize an X-Men vs. Street Fighter tournament. I love the game, and whoever wins can say they’re the ‘World Champion.’”
As for this year’s tournament, 20 players have registered so far, including some heavy hitters like Japanese Evo 2025 Champion Momoten, last year’s runner-up ken240sx, and fellow tournament organizer Majin Obama. “Infinite combos are definitely going to be a thing throughout the tournament,” Shnorhokian predicted. “The player who has the patience to land that crucial hit will likely be the one to walk away as the winner.”
The X-Men vs. Street Fighter side tournament is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET, but the main event will run throughout the weekend, culminating on Sunday night. Games will kick off each day around 1:00 p.m. ET and will be streamed across multiple channels, with the final Top 8 for Street Fighter 6 scheduled for 11:00 p.m. ET on August 3. For the full schedule of events, check out the official Evo website.