MAX MODE, an annual fighting game tournament hosted by the esports organization DATA FGC, will take place in Norcross from April 25-27.
Marking the second iteration of the event, this year aims to improve and add on from a successful inaugural year, working toward hopes of greater events and much greater attendance.
The event is organized by the Atlanta-based organization DATA FGC, made up of a group of friends that felt inspired to create events that bring people together.
The group was formed in 2013 when Matthew “BigBates” Bates attended Gwinnett Brawl, a now defunct monthly fighting game tournament. He met Marco “KRAKEN” Gonzalez, and the two went over to Gonzalez’s house to play further into the night.
“I really wanna start doing more for the community,” Gonzalez said that night to Bates. “We should just do our own tournament.”
And that they did. Now 12 years later, Gonzalez and Bates run DATA FGC alongside the rest of their tight-knit team, expressing the deep love they hold for the games they play.
On top of running their own independent events, the organization often gets invited to support other major events.
“It was so much but we just did it out of love,” Bates said. “We just wanted to make sure Georgia had a tournament that was for the players, by the players.”
Events at this year’s MAX MODE include the returning MomoCon-supported cosplay contest, an upgraded karaoke event, side tournaments for fighting and non-fighting games such as rhythm games and Tetris, various vendors, and a number of new fighting games on the main lineup.
New main-event games include Brawlhalla, Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2, Capcom vs SNK 2, Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O., and the soon to be released Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.
According to Bates, MAX MODE 2025 will be the first event to feature City of the Wolves. Many players are attending specifically to play the game in its infancy.
“There’s just so much talent coming in for it,” Bates said. “And it’s only gonna be out for three days, so when you wanna talk about degenerate fighting game techniques and tech, those are the best tournaments to go to.”
Many people are also traveling from far and wide for the King of Fighters event, said Bates. Its name is often abbreviated by its players as simply KOF.
“Lot of people are calling this the last hoo-rah for KOF because now that City of the Wolves is out, SNK is gonna slow down on their support for KOF 15, allegedly,” said Bates. “So, this is a big deal.”
SNK Corporation is the Japanese game development company behind games such as King of Fighters and the soon to be released City of the Wolves.
“It’s kind of nerve-wracking because we did so well the first year that more and more people are coming, and now you’ve gotta make sure you’re doing a good tournament,” Bates said. “But our main thing, we just want it to be fun.”
Registration to play at MAX MODE 2025 closed on April 13, but those looking to attend can still buy spectator passes.
“I really just hope everybody comes out and enjoys the event,” Bates said. “I’ll see you there.”
