REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new partnership approaches! Nintendo and Panda Global, a leading organization in the Super Smash Bros. community, are teaming up with the goal of creating a fun and welcoming space for players to compete while simultaneously boosting support for Super Smash Bros. tournaments and competitions. The partnership will kick off with Panda Global operating the first-ever officially licensed championship circuit in North America for both the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Super Smash Bros. Melee games. The circuit based in North America will kick off in 2022, with more details about the events, schedule and prizing to come in the future.
Panda Global’s Super Smash Bros. circuit will be open to eligible players who think they have what it takes to show their mettle in the hopes of competing against the best-of-the-best in either Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch system or Super Smash Bros. Melee for the Nintendo GameCube system.
Players from across the U.S. will compete online in qualifying rounds for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In-person qualifiers for both Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Super Smash Bros. Melee will also take place once large-scale events return, with the winners of the virtual and in-person qualifying rounds* moving on to compete in the grand finals for the championship. Players from Canada and Mexico will also be able to enter and compete, once Panda Global and Nintendo have deemed international travel and attendance at in-person events to be permissible. Players will be able to stay up-to-date on the in-person qualifiers* and grand finals when they are announced at panda.gg.
“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,” said Bill Trinen, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Nintendo of America. “We are proud to stand with an organization like Panda Global to celebrate and support the ever-growing competitive Super Smash Bros. community and create a space where all players can test and hone their competitive skills.”
“One of our key missions at Panda Global is to serve our communities in new and exciting ways,” said Dr. Alan Bunney, CEO of Panda Global. “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.”
Additional details about Panda Global’s Super Smash Bros. North America circuit in 2022, including official rules, event dates and prizing, will be revealed in the future. For more information, visit panda.gg.
For more information about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, visit https://www.smashbros.com/en_US/. For more information about Nintendo Switch, visit https://www.nintendo.com/switch/.
* In-person qualifiers may be canceled at any time due to pending situations surrounding COVID-19.
About Nintendo: Nintendo Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, has created franchises that have become household names worldwide, including Mario™, Donkey Kong™, The Legend of Zelda™, Metroid™, Pokémon™, Animal Crossing™, Pikmin™ and Splatoon™, through its integrated hardware and software products. Nintendo aims to deliver unique, intuitive entertainment experiences for everyone, manufacturing and marketing video game devices such as the Nintendo Switch™ family of systems, developing and operating applications for smart devices, and collaborating with partners on a range of other entertainment initiatives like visual content and theme parks. Nintendo has sold more than 5.1 billion video games and over 800 million hardware units globally. From the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System™ more than 30 years ago, through today and into the future, Nintendo’s continuing mission is to create unique entertainment that puts smiles on the faces of people all over the world. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Americas. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at https://www.nintendo.com/.
About Panda Global: Panda Global, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, is an integrated sports & entertainment brand and the world’s premier 1v1 gaming organization. With a heavy influence in the solo player genre, Panda has established itself as a cornerstone of gaming communities. Founded in 2015, Panda has become a pioneer in competitive gaming by focusing on its four key pillars: Competition, Content, Community and Charity. With over 850 tournaments won, a roster of top content creators, hundreds of events hosted each year, industry-leading websites and over $500,000 raised for charitable partners, Panda serves as an end-to-end, comprehensive competitive gaming solution. Panda’s ethos of “Hold Forward” has guided the organization to advance the communities around it as it continues to pave the path ahead with innovation, passion, and dedication.
Contact us on Twitter http://twitter.com/pandaglobal
or visit our website http://panda.gg
or email contact@panda.gg
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