Super Smash Bros. Melee EVO livestream back in action

Nintendo has withdrawn its request preventing official EVO 2013 livestreams from broadcasting the Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament this weekend.

In an update to the post announcing the livestream block, Shoryuken and EVO founder Tom Cannon said Nintendo had changed its mind.

"I’ve just received word from Nintendo that the Evo Smash Bros. Melee stream will be allowed to proceed. We will be restoring the original stream and tournament schedules," he wrote.

"Obviously this is a huge relief for all of us here and we’re thrilled that the world will get to see the best Smash players fight it out this weekend. Thanks to everyone online who supported both Evo and Smash."

In the brief interval, gamers had already mobilised a Change.org petition calling for the stream to be permitted.

Original story:

Nintendo has ruled that one of the world's most important fighting game championship events is unable to livestream its Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament.

"Regrettably, we’ve just been informed by Nintendo of America Inc. that we do not have permission to broadcast Super Smash Bros. Melee for Evo 2013," organisers wrote in an update to the livestream schedule on Shoryuken.

Instead, the official livestreams will show more content from the Persona 4 Arena and King of Fighters 13 tournaments, and there have been some adjustments to finals times.

What makes this all so very disappointing to fans is that 2013 marked the return of Super Smash Bros. franchise after several years absence from the Evolution Championship Series.

Nintendo has really been cracking down on user videos lately, a strategy it may want to rethink.

EVO 2013 will be held in Las Vegas this weekend.

Thanks, Kotaku.