Saudi Arabian megaproject Qiddiya has fully acquired Evolution Championship Series (Evo) operator RTS.
The acquisition enables Qiddiya to have greater involvement in the FGC esports event. In August 2025, it was revealed that Qiddiya was investing in RTS.
Alongside its role as operator and co-owner of Evo, RTS is an esports and gaming talent management and brand consultancy company that was founded in 2022. The announcement to fully acquire RTS was revealed on LinkedIn by Qiddiya’s Chief Strategy Officer, Muhannad Aldawood.
In the LinkedIn post, he said: “Excited to share that Qiddiya has acquired full ownership of RTS, a strategic step that will further strengthen our esports business and unlock new opportunities across the broader gaming ecosystem.
“This milestone paves the way for setting new heights in the evolution of Evo toward achieving the aspirations of the fighting game community.”
The Qiddiya megaproject forms part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to increase economic, social, and cultural diversification within the kingdom. Esports has played an integral role in the creation of Qiddiya, with the project securing deals with the likes of PUBG Mobile and the Esports World Cup.
Qiddiya is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the same initiative that is involved with the Esports World Cup. While the Kingdom’s expansion into the esports industry has assisted with its growth, the government’s involvement continues to be criticised due to its human rights record towards the LGBTQ+ community and women.
RTS previously shared ownership of Evo with Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), which sold its stake to India-based esports company NODWIN Gaming in August.
What Does The Future Of Evo Look Like?
Evo remains one of the largest FGC esports tournaments in the world, with several titles hosting large-scale competitions at events. Alongside events taking place in the United States and Japan, the tournament heads to Europe in October with Evo France taking place at Nice’s Palais des Expos.
With Qiddiya and NODWIN Gaming now at the helm of Evo, the event continues to expand across the world. 2027 will see the tournament make its debut in Southeast Asia, hosting a tournament in Singapore.
