" Evo 2026 " will be held in Las M.Bison, USA, from Friday, June 26, 2026, to Sunday, June 28, 2026 (local time).
As one of the world’s largest fighting game festivals, many participants from Japan will be traveling to the U.S. for the event.
Since many of you are probably thinking, “We’re here anyway, so let’s do some sightseeing!”, we’d like to introduce “Battlefield Vegas” as one option!
It’s a shooting range near the venue where you can experience live-fire shooting.
We went behind the scenes at “Battlefield Vegas,” where you can experience live-fire shooting!
" Evo 2026 " will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
" Battlefield Vegas " is located about a 20-minute walk from the venue.
But! Even though it’s only a 20-minute walk, temperatures in Las M.Bison at this time of year often reach 40 degrees, and the blazing sun cutting through the dry air really saps your energy.
So...
I ended up renting a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle—aka a Humvee.
Believe it or not, if you book in advance, they’ll even pick you up at your hotel for free.
The HMMWV pulls up to the hotel’s drop-off area, exuding an overwhelming presence.
Feeling all eyes on us, we climb aboard.
There’s a simple safety rope, but no seat belts.
The vehicle’s vibrations are felt directly, and I’m thrilled by this perspective—one I’ve only ever seen in FPS games.
Since I was staying at a hotel within walking distance of the Las M. Bison Convention Center, it took no time at all to reach my destination.
I wished I could have savored the experience a little longer, but there was nothing I could do about it.
There were tons of military vehicles on the grounds!
- Name: Ferret MK 2
- Country: United Kingdom
- Classification: Armored vehicle / Reconnaissance vehicle
- Design: 1949
- Production: 1952–1971
- Number Produced: 4,409
There were many vehicles on display outside the building.
Many of you have probably driven an armored vehicle in a video game.
- Name: Leopard A1
- Country: Germany
- Classification: Main battle tank
- Design: 1956–1961
- Production: 1965–1984
- Number Produced: 6,565
When you think of a tank, this is the shape that comes to mind, right?
This Leopard A1 was developed by Porsche.
Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the global automaker “Porsche,” is also known for designing many military vehicles.
- Name: M3A1 half-track
- Country: United States
- Classification: Armored personnel carrier
- Design: 1940–1941
- Production: 1941–1945
- Number Produced: 53,000 (including variants)
A “half-track” refers to a vehicle with tires on the front wheels and tracks—commonly known as caterpillars—on the rear wheels; the M3 half-track was widely used during World War II and the Cold War.
Many other vehicles are on display as well, and I’m already bursting with excitement.
The main event is yet to come.
A warning sign reads: “It is against the law to possess a firearm while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.”
Incidentally, in Nevada—home to Ras M. Bison—the use of marijuana itself is legal.
Honestly, you can smell it everywhere.
With a wide selection of souvenirs, it’s fun even if you don’t shoot anything
Upon entering the facility, I was surprised to find a wide variety of souvenirs spread out before me.
I had imagined it would be a bit more rugged, but it seems they’re happy to welcome visitors even if they’re just there to buy souvenirs.
Saiga NAK
But! When I happened to glance at the wall, there was...
- M1 GARAND
- MAUSER 98K
- RPK
- AK-74
- KRINKOV
- G36
- AUG
- Grease Gun
- MP-40
- MP5
- MPX
- STEN
- F90
- UMP
- COLT 1911
- P38
- LUGER
- BERETTA M9
...and so on and so forth—a long line of famous guns was on display.
I held back my excitement and browsed a little longer.
Saiga NAK
There was also a wide selection of apparel.
I especially hope that airsoft enthusiasts will be sure to buy the “real thing” here.
Heavy machine guns and mortars, weathered by time, are lined up on the ground, creating a truly impressive sight.
Saiga NAK
Some items are for sale, others aren’t, but they all look cool.
There are even grenade-shaped pouches and a barbecue lighter modeled after the AK-47, one of the world’s most famous guns.
This one’s legal in Japan, too.
...Well, it’s about time for the moment you’ve all been waiting for.
At “Battlefield Vegas,” you can choose from over 150 types of firearms.
They also offer special packages themed after movies and video games; this time, I chose plans inspired by “ Escape from Tarkov ” and “ Call of Duty: Warzone.”
No fooling around from here on out
After reviewing the safety guidelines and signing the consent form, we finally headed to the shooting range.
A staff member who is a veteran will teach us how to use the guns.
Even though they were all smiles just a moment ago, in a sense, they’re risking their lives here.
Saiga NAK
Wow, they look so cool.
There really is something romantic about guns.
We wear ear muffs for soundproofing inside the shooting range, but even so, the gunshots resonate deep within your body.
And the smell of gunpowder fills the air.
“I wonder if he likes TERIYAKI BOYZ…”— but this is no time to be thinking about that.
As I’m taught how to use each gun one by one, I actually get to try firing them.
In the game, the guns are carried around with ease, but in real life, even a handgun feels surprisingly heavy.
With this package, you can fire a total of 80 rounds across four different firearms, so you’ll gradually get used to the recoil.
Aim for the center of the target to inflict a fatal wound!
This is the Russian submachine gun, the “PP-19-01 Vityaz.”
In Escape from Tarkov, it’s called the “PP-19-01 ‘Vityaz’ 9x19 Submachine Gun.”
It’s based on the famous AK-74 and is on the longer side for a submachine gun.
Despite the recoil control techniques I practiced in-game, burst fire is the best I can manage.
However, if I shoot while looking through the scope properly, the bullets fly exactly as intended (probably), so modern firearms really are amazing.
This is the American sniper rifle, the “Knight’s SR-25.”
In Escape from Tarkov, it’s called the “Knight’s Armament Company SR-25 7.62x51 Marksman Rifle.”
It’s a semi-automatic rifle that’s said to allow for very stable sniping.
I fired it with the bipod attached, but even so, there was still significant recoil.
You have to try this at least once in your life!
...And just like that, the live-fire shooting experience was over in the blink of an eye.
Looking at the target I brought home as a souvenir, you can see the bullet holes with scorched marks.
Live-fire shooting is something you rarely get to experience in Japan.
It’s a much more serious world than video games, but I’ll definitely never forget the feel of holding a gun in my hands, and I truly felt its “awe-inspiring power,” including its rich history.
Be sure to stop by when you visit “Evo 2026”!
Check the official “Battlefield Vegas” website for details on the types of guns you can shoot and how to make a reservation!