** The New Golden Age of the FGC** EVO France 2025 wasn’t just another tournament — it was the loudest, biggest, and most emotional EVO in recent memory. Over 1,000 competitors signed up for Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6 alone, turning France into the heart of the Fighting Game Community. The prize pool surpassed $1.5 million, proving that competitive fighting games have entered a new golden age. From returning legends to fearless newcomers, this EVO reminded everyone why we love fighting games: precision, adrenaline, and community. <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7472214434062426" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block; text-align:center;" data-ad-layout="in-article" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7472214434062426" data-ad-slot="2708104520"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> This year’s lineup included: • Street Fighter 6 • Tekken 8 • Guilty Gear Strive • Dragon Ball FighterZ • Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising • Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact • City of the Wolves Not every title caught my attention (sorry, Hunter X Hunter), but the four pillars — **Guilty Gear, Dragon Ball, Tekken, and Street Fighter** — delivered a weekend worthy of legend. ⚔️ Chapter I — Guilty Gear Strive: Chaos, Art, and Genius The Guilty Gear bracket was a rollercoaster of precision and insanity. It started with Gobou from Japan giving the camera a death stare in Top 8 Losers Round 1 — commentators screamed “He knows!” as he broke the fourth wall in true anime fashion.  Image credit to Evo Events Then came Varex vs Gobou — Asuka vs Nagoriyuki — a duel of patience and pressure. Gobou kept cornering Varex with relentless zoning, but Varex refused to crack. He adapted, countered perfectly, and the crowd erupted. I was yelling at my screen. Nitro, a player I’ve followed since his Dragon Ball FighterZ days, brought my favorite character, Leo White Fang, back into the spotlight — but Tigerpop stopped him with flawless reads and composure. Tigerpop’s domination continued: • He eliminated Varex. • Forced Patachou, the French favorite, to swap from Ky Kiske to Elphelt. • And still, it wasn’t enough — Tigerpop’s reign was absolute. He is now EVO Guilty Gear Strive 2025 Champion — and deservedly so.  Image credit to Evo Events Guilty Gear Strive proved once again: when chaos is mastered, it becomes art. 🐉 **Chapter II — Dragon Ball FighterZ: The Resurrection** Dragon Ball FighterZ — one of my all-time favorite games — finally woke up again. **Ikari claimed victory, though I was rooting for Gropius, who fought with real heart.** The Spanish player Miami suffered a tough loss when his controller disconnected mid-match — he was winning, but rules are rules. And even Yasha, usually a top-tier competitor, couldn’t reach Top 8 this year. The skill ceiling was higher than ever. Then came the moment: Goku Super Saiyan 4 (Daima) was announced, and the arena went wild. The chants of “We are so back!” said it all — Dragon Ball FighterZ is alive again.  Image credit to Evo Events **Mark your calendar: Dragon Ball Battle Hour 2026, April 10–12.** After years of silence, Dragon Ball FighterZ reminded us that legends never die — they just wait for their next transformation. 👑 **Chapter III — Tekken 8: Legacy vs Innovation** Tekken 8 was a festival of raw emotion. Every match sounded like a final — especially when Fergus, Ireland’s pride, stepped into the ring. The crowd adored him. Each combo was met with roars. Facing him was KingRayJr, only 19 years old, playing Asuka at her absolute limit. He even eliminated LowHigh, the 2018 EVO Champion. The new generation fought hard, but then came Arslan Ash — my personal favorite and arguably the greatest of all time. People doubted him at first. He started slow. But as always, Arslan flipped the switch, defeating Quodans, then sweeping through the losers bracket and destroying Fergus 3–0 in the finals. **7 EVO titles.** A record. A legacy.  Image credit to Evo Events Even JeonDDing's masterful Eddy couldn’t stop him — Arslan’s offense is simply godlike. Fun fact: there were two Yoshimitsus in the Top 8, something unheard of in recent years. The meta’s evolving fast. We also saw the reveal of Miyari Zou (also teased in Guilty Gear) and the Madagascar Stage for Tekken 8. I’m still not sold on her design — it feels a bit out of place — but she looks fun, and let’s be honest: we’ll all try her anyway. Tekken 8 reminded us that the King of Iron Fist never loses his throne. **Funny side note, the translator for Arslan Ash was so bad the he after she finishes talking he's like"next time il speak instead of you" which HE DID! Something i noticed.  Image credit to Evo Events 🥋 **Chapter IV — Street Fighter 6: Light, Legends, and Legacy** No game captured the soul of EVO France 2025 like Street Fighter 6. It began with Mr. Crimson, the French hero. As he entered the stage, the entire arena lit up with phone lights — a spontaneous concert. The atmosphere was unforgettable.  Image credit to Evo Events Then came Blaz, the 15-year-old prodigy. Normally a Ryu main, he surprised everyone by picking Sagat to face Elena. Every time he pulled off a Shoryuken, the crowd screamed “SHORYUKEN!” in perfect sync — pure magic. **The clash between Blaz and Mr. Crimson was the most cinematic fight of the weekend. It looked like Mr. Crimson had plot armor, but Blaz stayed calm, breaking through the noise and the narrative.** The prodigy rewrote destiny. In the Grand Finals, Blaz faced Lashar, the Korean master who hadn’t lost a single set. Lashar’s Ed was precise, unreadable — almost surgical. Blaz gave everything, but Lashar’s control was unshakable. The final round came down to both players using Level 1 supers with just one second left — Lashar survived by a heartbeat. Lashar — undefeated, unshaken, unstoppable — is the EVO Street Fighter 6 Champion of 2025. It would’ve been the perfect fairytale if Blaz had won, but this ending showed something even more powerful: the future of Street Fighter is already here. 🌍 **Epilogue — The Heartbeat of the FGC** EVO France 2025 wasn’t just about trophies — it was about the community.