- Capcom announced the return of live crowd events with a hybrid Capcom Pro Tour 2022 format
- There will be 19 regions and a hybrid Street Fighter circuit with Online and Offline Premiers
- Players from Russia and Belarus will not be permitted to participate
Street Fighter fans rejoice as Capcom is finally bringing back live events for this year’s Capcom Pro Tour.
Street Fighter V Is Live Again
Due to the pandemic, many live esports events were either held with limited audiences or pushed to online-only formats. However, as restrictions seem to be lifting for good, companies are returning to hosting in-person competitions. This includes Capcom who recently released initial details for the Capcom Pro Tour (CPT) 2022. The company announced it is returning to offline events for the first time in two years. Online events will still be held as part of the new World Warrior program.
Capcom’s announcement for the CPT comes just days after the company unveiled a 2022 Pro Tour Bundle for Street Fighter V. It consists of various cosmetic items and a new map and is being released on March 29. We will no doubt see some of these new skins being played in the lead-up to Capcom Cup IX. This event will feature 48 players, while the CPT leading to it will be a hybrid Street Fighter circuit with Online and Offline Premiers.
Nineteen online regional premiers across 19 territories will be run by Capcom during the year, with each event being region-locked. Each event’s winner will qualify for the Capcom Cup, while the top four finalists split a prize pool of $5,000.
What Else Should Fans Know?
The CPT’s return to offline games will be facilitated by existing fighting game community (FGC) Majors. They will be included on the official CPT 2022 circuit, with the winner of each event automatically qualifying for Capcom Cup.
However, players from Russia and Belarus are not going to be permitted to participate. This is due to the war in Ukraine, as many organizations like EA have banned players from these countries to compete. This is a largely symbolic act as a condemnation of the war.
the World Warrior program is the latest addition to the hybrid format of the CPT 2022 lineup. Capcom stated this will could be either online or offline, depending on the situation. Participants in the World Warrior program will be able to rack up points on a regional leaderboard by participating in local events. Each region’s champions will be able to participate in the Capcom Cup.
CPT 2022 will start on April 30 with the North America West Online Premier. More details about the 2022 program will be released soon, but you can view the full schedule of Street Fighter events on the Capcom Pro Tour website.
