A Nintendo executive will compete in Smash Bros at Evo

The hype around Evo 2015, the largest fighting games tournament in North America, is heating up. It’s even attracting the attention of Nintendo executives—in a way that any fight game fan can surely appreciate.

Bill Trinen, Nintendo’s senior product marketing manager, will compete in Smash Bros. for Wii U at the event in Las Vegas later this month.

Nintendo has been hesitantly embracing competitive Smash since the launch of Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS last year. That comes after years of ignoring Smash’s competitive scene, or even acting outright hostile to it—just two years ago, the company notoriously tried to shut down Super Smash Bros. Melee at Evo.

That’s obviously changed this year, though the company still isn’t throwing any prize money into the event. Maybe Trinen’s entry, however, is a sign of greater corporate involvement to come.

H/T Gamnesia | Screengrab via Nintendo/YouTube

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