- Nintendo will bring Smash Bros. tournaments to North America
- The competitions will start off online at first
- Players from Canada and Mexico will also have the opportunity to compete
Nintendo is bringing the first officially licensed Super Smash Bros. championship circuit to players in North America with the help of Panda Global.
A New Partnership
Players from North America have long awaited an official Super Smash Bros. championship circuit. Their hopes have finally turned to reality as Nintendo of America has announced they are teaming up with Panda Global to bring competitions for both Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Melee. This partnership comes alongside Nintendo’s massive investment in video content, aimed to promote their products worldwide.
From an as of yet undetermined date in 2022, Panda will host the circuit for all eligible players across both titles, is what the company announced on Twitter.
Senior Director of Product Marketing at Nintendo of America Bill Trinen, said “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.”
How Will the New Tournaments Be Structured?
In the initial phases, players from the US will start competing in online qualifiers. Once Panda and Nintendo decide it is safe to organize large-scale in-person events, the companies will organize offline qualifiers for both Ultimate and Melee.
Those, who come up on top in these events, will continue to the grand finals. Details on these events will be revealed along with the rest of the circuit in the near future.
The US is not the only country that will have a new Smash circuit. Players in Mexico and Canada will also have the opportunity to participate, but this will happen only when both Nintendo and Panda deem it is safe to allow international travel for entry.
“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.”
Bill Trinen, Nintendo of America product marketing director
Panda Global’s CEO Dr. Alan Bunney said that one of the company’s main missions is to serve its community in new and exciting ways. “By partnering with Nintendo, we are giving our competitors in North America the chance to compete in an officially licensed Super Smash Bros. circuit for the first time.”
There will be further information released on the exact details of how the circuit will be handled yet. More information about the current state of things can be found on Panda’s official page.
