The EVO Japan 2024 presented by ROHTO (hereinafter referred to as EVO Japan 2024), Japan's largest fighting game festival, was held from Friday, April 27 to Monday, April 29, 2024.
In this report, we cover the Cygames, Bandai Namco Entertainment (hereinafter referred to as Bandai Namco), and Akira Nishitani booths!
Cygames Booth
Cygames developed Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, which was selected as a main tournament title for both EVO Japan 2024 and EVO 2024.
Saiga NAK
The booth sold smartphone shoulder bags, stickers, and portable power banks, as well as apparel such as caps and T-shirts.
Furthermore, the Cygames booth hosted an early hands-on demo for the additional character Beatrix, the Undying Blue, who is scheduled for release in late May 2024.
A sale is currently being held on the Steam PC platform from 2:00 AM on Friday, April 26, 2024, to 2:00 AM on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
If you purchase GRANBLUE FANTASY: Relink and the Steam version of Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising at the same time, you receive 15% off in total.
Those who already own one of the titles are also eligible for the discount, so be sure to check it out!
Bandai Namco Booth
When speaking of Bandai Namco, it has to be Tekken 8, the first new entry in the series in about 9 years!
At the EVO Japan 2024 finals, there was also a surprise announcement for the second Season 1 playable character, Lidia Sobieska.
The booth displayed and sold various items related to Tekken, such as stickers, acrylic stands, folding fans, and T-shirts.
Figures from the collaboration between S.H.Figuarts and Tekken 8 were also on display.
Jin Kazama is scheduled to be released in June 2024, and Kazuya Mishima in July 2024; both are currently available for pre-order.
This is the collaboration watch between the fashion brand ANGEL CLOVER and Tekken 8!
Although very little information has been revealed even on the collaboration special page, it is scheduled for release in the summer of 2024.
Akira Nishitani Booth
The booth that gathered the most significant crowds was that of Akira Nishitani, the creator of Final Fight and Street Fighter II, and the president of ARIKA CO., LTD.
On Day 1 and Day 2 of EVO Japan 2024, a talk show was held in collaboration with the YouTube channel "Harada's Bar" hosted by Katsuhiro Harada, the Tekken Project Chief Director.
Over the two days, fighting game discussions were held with guests such as Daisuke Ishiwatari from Arc System Works Co., Ltd., Yasuyuki Oda from SNK Corporation, EVO Director MarkMan, and Kohei Ikeda from Bandai Namco Studios Inc.
Remarkably, the entire booth experience over the two days was streamed on the YouTube channel "Harada's Bar"!
You can still watch the archive footage now.
There are plenty of stories you can only hear here, such as "What about a collaboration between Guilty Gear and Ganryu (Tekken)?", "Is Mihara dangerous?", "What will happen to the fighting game world in the future?", and more!
また 奈良県民限定トークになるかと思った瞬間#どぐら #原田勝弘 #EVOJ2024 #西谷さんブース #はらだのばぁー pic.twitter.com/fvbkpNwNlw
— Harada's Bar (@HaradasBar) April 27, 2024