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Nintendo partners with Panda Global for first official Super Smash Bros. Circuit

Nintendo is partnering with Panda Global for the first-ever official Super Smash Bros.  championship circuit. 

In 2022, Panda Global will operate a series of officially licensed competitive circuits for Super Smash Bros. Melee  and  Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. There’ll be several professional tournaments culminating in a massive championship later — no details just yet on when or where these will take place other than they’ll be in North America. So there’s still plenty of time to  brush up on your Sora skills, at least.

The circuit will begin with qualifying rounds in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate  via online play. Since Super Smash Bros. Melee  doesn’t have an official online component (because it’s a 20-year-old game), in-person qualifiers will come once Nintendo and Panda Global are confident they can host a big event again safely.

Bill Trinen, senior director of product marketing at Nintendo, had nothing but enthusiasm for the company’s joint venture with Panda Global.

“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,” Trinen said  in a statement. “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.”

The competitive scene for Smash Bros.  is fairly health, especially with how often  Nintendo adds big-name characters to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. An official tournament series is new, though. Maybe  Masahiro Sakurai will make an appearance during the finals.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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