This is exactly why the company inking a deal with Nintendo directly, to sponsor a brand new tournament circuit for Super Smash Bros., is a landmark moment. ESAM, MVD, and (formerly) SS joined the team's Smash representatives, as well as bringing on EVO winner Filipino Champ for a few years.Įven though Panda Global has since expanded its reach into various different aspects of competitive gaming, it all started with Super Smash Bros. Before expanding into various other fighting games, speedrunning, and other gaming communities, the team got its start sponsoring some of the best Super Smash Bros. Panda Global is an esports organization that's got its hand in multiple fighting game communities, with sponsored players for Street Fighter, Guilty Gear, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and various other games over the years. Panda Global's History with Super Smash Bros. RELATED: The Future of Platform Fighting Games Looks Bright However, that could change with Panda Global's new 2022 circuit. However, Nintendo has rarely sponsored events for Super Smash Bros.tournaments outside of its own wheelhouse, and even when certain events like CEO or Genesis were co-sponsored by Nintendo, it didn't amount to much more than endorsement. Major tournaments, and more recently tournament circuits, have been reserved for private endeavors by various esports organizations, even partnering with Twitch.
Oftentimes Nintendo has run its own casual-leaning tournaments during major industry events or online, but most professional players are generally more accustomed to a competitor-friendly format. However, Nintendo has rarely supported these grassroots tournaments. Unlike traditional fighters like Street Fighter or Tekken, where there's plenty to be gained by grinding online or sitting in training room, the best experience in playing Smash competitively is generally experienced through tournaments.
Whether on the local level against players in the same city or state, on a regional level against multiple states, or at a major with international talent, there's opportunities all across the U.S. game competitively has always involved some degree of participation in the grassroots fighting game community. They normally retail for $299, but during Black Friday, both Best Buy and Walmart are offering the console bundled with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the same $299 price.Playing a Super Smash Bros. Nintendo Switch bundle: $300 at Best Buy and Walmartįirst things first: If you don't have a Nintendo Switch console, now's a good time to pick one up. Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!, $45 (reduced from $60).Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, $50 at GameStop (reduced from $60).Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee!, $50 at GameStop (reduced from $60).Yoshi's Crafted World, $50 at GameStop (reduced from $60).Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, $42 (reduced from $60).Monster Hunter Rise, $25 at GameStop (reduced from $40).Splatoon 2, $40 at GameStop (reduced from $60).Kirby Star Allies, $40 at GameStop (reduced from $60).Paper Mario: The Origami King, $33 (reduced from $60).(Prices shown are for new condition games - pre-owned prices may be lower.) Here's a sampling of some of the other games you can pick up at a big discount at GameStop right now. And Ring Fit Adventure, a 4.8-star game that's all about getting healthier, is just $54 at GameStop, reduced from $80.Īnd that's not all. You can pick up some of the best-selling Nintendo Switch games of all time, including Splatoon 2 for $40 at the GameStop Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale.
At that price, it's like getting a digital download of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for free when you buy a Nintendo Switch.īut back to those Switch games. Even better: Both retailers are offering a Nintendo Switch bundle with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for $299. Best Buy, GameStop and Target have all sorts of great Nintendo Switch games at reduced prices through Cyber Monday.īut if you're more about the console this season, that's OK, too: The Walmart Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale and the Best Buy Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale are great places to shop for a Nintendo Switch system this holiday.
Black Friday isn't the only time to find deals on Nintendo Switch games. If you're shopping for a video game fan this holiday season, we have great news. Gift them a new Nintendo Switch and games this holiday season. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. CBS Essentials is created independently from the CBS News staff.