February 1, 2025

GENESIS X3: The West Coast’s Premier Grassroots Fighting Game Event Returns to San Jose This Month

The storied tournament series celebrates its 12th edition with global circuit status for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves and 2XKO, a 24/7 convention experience, and elite competition from around the world.

[SAN JOSE, CA] GENESIS Gaming is proud to welcome attendees from around the world later this month in San Jose as the 12th iteration of the West Coast’s grassroots fighting game series kicks off this Valentine’s Day weekend. Taking place from February 13–15, 2026, at the San Jose McEnery Convention Centre, GENESIS X3 will bring eyeballs from around the world and across the esports industry to the Bay Area. From casual gamers watching their first competitive gaming tournament to career pros who have dominated their games for years, thousands of attendees will flock to San Jose for a weekend of elite competition, celebration of community, and round-the-clock gaming.

This year’s event marks a significant milestone in the series’ evolution, as GENESIS X3 has been designated an official Master II-tier event on the SNK World Championship 2026 circuit for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. This status awards high-stakes ranking points to top finishers, directly impacting the global leaderboard. The stakes are equally high for fans of Riot Games’ newest competitive title, as GENESIS X3 will host a featured Challenger event for Season 1 of the 2XKO Competitive Series. These officially recognized brackets solidify the event as a must-attend tournament for professional players looking to secure their qualifying seats and build a presence on the world stage.

The convention floor offers a massive 24/7 experience, featuring over 200,000 square feet of gaming, culture, and community. Beyond the premier brackets for Super Smash Bros. Melee and Ultimate, the event includes a sprawling Artist Alley, an expansive Vendor Hall, and the return of the "Rhythm Zone" - hosting dedicated tournaments for DanceDanceRevolution, maimai, and Pump It Up. With all this and the expanded presence of community-run brackets and Trading Card Games, the programming is designed to be packed with something for everyone from start to finish.

As always, GENESIS X3 is supported by key industry partners, including Corsair and Zenni Optical, who will be bringing exclusive prizing, integrations, and deals to attendees as well as the support that makes GENESIS possible. The event is further bolstered by the creative collaboration of FarFlash, ensuring that the community-driven spirit and unique identity of GENESIS remain at the forefront of the viewing experience, even for those watching from home.

"Since our series debut back in 2009, GENESIS has been about creating a platform that not only attracts and shows off global talent, but also a proving ground for some of the most talented folks on the backend of these events to try new things and push our space as a community forward. The players and the community built this scene from the ground up and that vision has kept us grounded and really in tune with our grassroots origins," said Boback Vakili, co-founder of GENESIS. "Seeing the event grow into a multi-franchise convention on this scale is a testament to the community’s passion and the success of that vision."

Co-founder Sheridan Zalewski added, "Our goal for every GENESIS event is to create the most cohesive and high-energy environment possible. Every year, we learn a little bit about what programming really sticks with our attendees and what we can replace with new ideas. This year wasn’t just about sifting through that programming, though. It was really about seeing how far we can push those great ideas. Getting to put all that under one roof at the McEnery Convention Centre means I think we’re really offering a level of immersion and connection that’s tough to come by elsewhere."

Ticketing for spectators remains open at start.gg/GX3. Fans worldwide can follow the action live on Twitch throughout the weekend at twitch.tv/genesisgg.

About GENESIS Gaming

GENESIS is the West Coast’s premier grassroots fighting game tournament series. Based in Northern California, GENESIS has grown from a local tournament into a global phenomenon, attracting the best talent from every continent and serving as a “must-attend” for every fighting game fan.

Media Contact

GENESIS GAMING

press@genesis.gg