Editing Team:Panda

| owners    = Alan Bunney ({{Sm|SamuraiPanda}})<br>David Wu ({{Sm|Mashumaro}})

'''Panda''', formerly '''Panda Global''' ('''PG'''), is a professional eSports organization based in the United States. It was co-founded by Alan Bunney ({{Sm|SamuraiPanda}}) and David Wu ({{Sm|Mashumaro}}) in June 2015 as a player centric organization looking to help their players' careers, facilitate their goals, and promote the growth of the eSports scenes they participate in.  

Panda entered the world of ''Smash'' on June 24th, 2015 with the sponsorship of Florida ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' and ''[[Smash 4]]'' top players {{Sm|ESAM}} and {{Sm|MVD}} as well as {{SSB4|Villager}} main {{Sm|SS|p=Arizona}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/3b7nhd/esam_and_mvd_have_officially_signed_with_new/|title=ESAM and MVD have officially signed with new esports team Panda Gaming!}}</ref>. On June 30th, Panda took their first step in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' by signing Florida-based {{SSBM|Sheik}} player {{Sm|Plup}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/pg_plup/status/615981769058316288|title=Plup joins Panda}}</ref>. On November 2nd, Panda signed the [[EVO 2013]] ''Melee'' runner-up {{Sm|Wobbles}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/pandaglobalpg/status/661343133712674816|title=Panda signs Wobbles}}</ref>. On June 22nd, 2016, they picked up {{SSB4|Ryu}} main {{Sm|Trela}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/16421839/panda-global-signs-trela-compete-team-banner-ceo|title=Panda signs Trela, will compete under team banner at CEO}}</ref>. On June 30th, {{Sm|Alpharad}} joined the team as their content director<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/pandaglobalpg/status/748646569436602368|title=Alpharad joins Panda}}</ref>.

On May 7th, 2016, Panda picked up {{Sm|Dom|p=Tri-state}}, {{Sm|Zan}}, and {{Sm|suar}} as a newly-formed subteam called '''PG Stats''' which specialises in ''Smash 4'' statistics<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/4ibrb5/panda_global_announces_new_smash_4_stats_team/|title=Panda announces new Smash 4 stats team}}</ref>. They are responsible for the [[Panda Global Rankings]], a biannual list that ranks the Top 50 ''Smash 4'' players in the world. {{Sm|Tetra}}, {{Sm|juddy}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PandaGlobalPG/status/738452493936558081|title=juddy and Tetra join PG Stats}}</ref>, {{Sm|Giant}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ThePGstats/status/799378123833929728|title=Giant joins PG Stats as Lead Systems Engineer!}}</ref>, and {{Sm|Spike}} were later added to the PG Stats team, although Tetra and juddy later left.

In January 2017, following SS and Trela's departure from the organization, Panda added SoCal's best {{SSB4|Mewtwo}} main {{Sm|Rich Brown}} to their ''Smash 4'' team and expanded into ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' by picking up {{Sm|SuPeRbOoMfAn}}, the best player in North America and second best player in the world according to the [[64 League Rankings]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/18493165/panda-global-signs-superboomfan-rich-brown|title=Panda signs SuPeRbOoMfAn and Rich Brown}}</ref>. On April 12th, 2018, Panda added MD/VA's best player {{Sm|Zain}} to their ''Melee'' team<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PandaGlobal/status/984521696957870080|title=Welcome to the Plup Club: Zain joins Panda!}}</ref>. On July 26th, 2018, Panda added {{SSB4|Corrin}} main {{Sm|Cosmos}} to their ''Smash 4'' team<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PandaGlobal/status/1022572682989199366|title=Introducing Panda's newest member, Cosmos!!}}</ref>.

On November 18th, 2021, Panda announced a partnership with [[Nintendo]] to create the first officially-licensed North American competitive circuit.<ref>[https://www.panda.gg/news/panda-nintendo-circuit Announcement of partnership]</ref> On May 26th, 2022, the circuit was officially announced as the {{Trn|Panda Cup}}.<ref>[https://www.panda.gg/news/panda-cup-announcement Panda Cup announcement]</ref> It was meant to take place from June 24th to December 18th, 2022 and features ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.

 

On November 29th, 2022, a Twitlonger from the [[Smash World Tour 2022]] was published alleging that Panda had leveraged their relationship with Nintendo to strong-arm tournament organizers into joining the Panda Cup circuit, threatening to shut down events in 2023. The TwitLonger also alleged that they had played a significant role in the last-minute cancellation of the Smash World Tour 2022 Championships for Ultimate and Melee, claiming that CEO Alan Bunney had campaigned to have the circuit shut down. This caused significant backlash from the community, with several prominent figures criticizing Panda's and Nintendo's actions, including top players {{Sm|Sparg0}} and {{Sm|Hungrybox}} as well as notable streamers such as {{Sm|Cr1TiKaL}}, and {{Sm|Ludwig}}. Many players also dropped out of the Panda Cup as many in the community called for a boycott. In response, Panda released two responses. The first released on December 2nd and was largely criticized for lacking substance, leading to the departure of {{Sm|Plup}}, {{Sm|iBDW}}, and {{Sm|WaDi}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PandaGlobal/status/1598741395870605312|title=Panda's first response}}</ref> The second response was released on December 5th, which was more well received due to the CEO Bunney stepping down and the team's commitment to helping team members with their departure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PandaGlobal/status/1599631343159480321|title=Panda's second response}}</ref>

 

On December 7th, Bunney himself released a [https://medium.com/@alan_43400/my-statement-3a66fd37978a personal response] detailing his side of the story. The main points were that he and Panda never meant to harm VGBC and even defended them at points, members of Beyond the Summit were difficult to work with, and members of the community were conspiring to turn on Panda, as well as the theory that Smash World Tour was never going to happen and was only a front to be perceived as a martyr by the community. This response was met with backlash from the community, with many prominent figures, even ones not mentioned in any response up to that point, speaking up to challenge and debunk his claims. Others pointed out that Bunney may actually had good intentions, but it was ruined by his poor communication and behavior.

 

Panda would release all of their remaining professional Smash players following this, ending with {{Sm|Marss}} on January 16th, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Marss_NE/status/1615125863502077952|title=Marss leaves Panda}}</ref>

*{{Sm|Spike|USA}} (PGstats designer)

*{{Sm|Dom|USA|c1=Villager|c2=Sheik|g=SSB4|p=Tri-state}} (PGstats writer, joined May 7th, 2016)

*{{Sm|Kantrip|Canada|c1=Diddy Kong|g=SSBU}} (Influencer)

*Cosmos and Wrath were both unable to attend, so the key was passed down to the 3rd place finisher, {{Sm|Koolaid}}.

*Cosmos was unable to attend, so the key was passed down to the runner-up, Zage.

*Sonix and lapis lazuli both declined their keys, so it was passed down to the 3rd place finisher, {{Sm|Locus}}.