Games of the Future
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![]() | It has been suggested that this article be split into articles titled 2024 Games of the Future and 2025 Games of the Future. (Discuss) (June 2024) |
![]() Games of the Future trophy | |
Tournament information | |
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Sport | Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, World of Tanks, laser tag, skateboarding, basketball and others |
Location | Kazan, Russia |
Dates | February 21, 2024–March 3, 2024 |
Participants | More than 2000 |
Website | https://en.gofuture.games/ |
The Games of the Future (Russian: Игры будущего; Arabic: العاب المستقبل) is an annual global phygital (fusing physical and digital) sports tournament, organized by Phygital International.[1]
Format
[edit]Marrying perfectly the physical and digital sporting worlds, the Games of the Future is a groundbreaking concept that redefines conventions by incorporating advanced technologies into competitive disciplines.
Players compete in their chosen discipline across two rounds: the first focuses on physical sporting performance, followed by a second round where players look to showcase their digital gaming prowess.[2]
Each of the disciplines represents a combination of dynamic sports with the most popular video games and technologies. The competition is divided into categories (challenges), including sport, tactics, strategy and technology. These include sports such as Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Dancing and others.[3]
Editions
[edit]After a bidding process run by Phygital International, the annual event is awarded to a host country. The first of these happened in 2024 in Russia.
Year | Country | Host City | Event Dates | Announcement Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Russia | Kazan | Feb 21-March 3, 2024 | |
2025 | UAE | TBC | TBC | June 1, 2024 |
2026 | Kazahkstan | TBC | TBC | October 14, 2024 |
Games of the Future 2024
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The tournament was held from February 21 to March 3, 2024 in Kazan, Russia. Over 260 teams and over 2000 athletes from different countries participated in the tournament in 21 disciplines (16 in the main program and 5 in the extended program) based on a combination of physical activity, modern technology and digital environments, and players met in five areas ranging from sports to technology. There were 10 qualifiers for the tournament, the Phygital Games.
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On February 21, 2024, the opening ceremony of the tournament was held, attended by Presidents of Russia, President of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.[4]
Concerns and controversies
[edit]Several teams have rejected the invitation to participate in the Games due to concerns of personal data being misused.[5] Nigma Galaxy withdrew from the tournament due to fears of being banned from official Valve tournaments.[6] United States Senator Mitt Romney voiced concern about Russia's growing influence in esports.[7]
Ranking
[edit]Partial list of winners of the Games of the Future 2024: Virtual cycling
- Minsk (BEL), 522 points[8] — Yauhen Sobal, Taisa Naskovich, Anna Terekh, Mikhail Shemetau
- Marathon-Tula (RUS), 469 points — Gulnaz Khatuntseva, Diana Klimova, Sergey Rostovtsev, Pyotr Rikunov
- Italian Espresso (ITA), 425 points
Phygital Hockey
- Liga Pro Team (RUS)
- COSMOS X17 (RUS)
- Ak Bars (RUS)
Phygital Football
- Penarol (URY)
- Lokomotiv Moscow (RUS)
- Mexico Quetzales (MEX)
E-Athletics
- Russian Cyborgs (RUS)
- Falcon Verts (KSA)
- Pharaohs (EGY)
Phygital MMA
- Kuznya (RUS) — 32 points
- GOR Union (Multinational) — 30 points
- MMA Fighters (ARM) — 27 points
- Young (RUS)
- HLS (RUS)
- Winstrike (RUS)
- Xtreme Gaming (CHN)
- LGD Gaming (CHN)
- Invictus Gaming (CHN)
Show Match Super finals — Entity Gaming.
- Ivan IlluminatiSalad Kosnikov
- Erik kip Niyazov
- Mikhail DRO3D_RUS Stepanyuk
Standoff 2 + Laser tag
- Absolute (RUS)
- SaiNts (RUS)
- forZe Esports (RUS)
Phygital Skateboarding
- Latino Gang (ARG)
- Hustlers (EUR)
- Slugs (RUS)
- Beyond (RUS)
- Enemy (RUS)
- Solnce[10]
Battle of the Robots
- DS ROBOTICS (IND)
- Daddy Boys (RUS)
- TurboMeKhatroniki (RUS).
Counter-Strike 2 + Laser tag
- XGod (KAZ)
- Looking for Org (RUS)
- HOTU (RUS)
- Fyodor Romashov (RUS)
- Alexander Babin (RUS)
- Kirill Kudryashov (RUS)
Phygital Basketball
- Liga Pro Team (RUS)
- R10 Team USA (USA)
- URAL BASKET (RUS)
- Team Min’s Korea (ROK)
- Flat-Out (BUL)
- DRD (RUS)
Games of the Future 2025
[edit]On June 1, 2024 at the first-ever World Phygital Summit held in Istanbul, Turkey, it was announced that the second international multi-sport tournament in the concept of phygital sports 2025 Games of the Future will be held in the United Arab Emirates.[11]
Beating nine prospective bidders, the UAE has won the bid to host the Games of the Future 2025.[12]
On December 9, 2024, it was announced that the Games of the Future 2025 in the UAE will start on November 21, 2025; first four phygital disciplines for the Games have also been revealed: Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Shooter, and Phygital Dancing.[2]
Games of the Future 2026
[edit]On October 14, 2024, it was announced that the 2026 Games of the Future will be held in Kazakhstan.[13]
Three countries competed for the right to host this tournament. The initiative to hold the "Games of the Future" in Kazakhstan was proposed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the opening ceremony of the first games in Kazan in 2024.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Games of the Future heading to UAE". The Stadium Business. 2024-02-07. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ a b "Games of the Future date confirmed". Inside The Games. 2024-02-07. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ "Games of the Future 2025 rankings kick off for phygital sports combining digital and physical competitions". SVG Europe. 2024-02-07. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ "Putin meets with Eurasian counterparts amid multi-sports tournament in Kazan". aa.com.tr. 2024-02-07. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ "Games of Future invited teams are facing community backlash". esports.gg. May 10, 2024.
- ^ "Nigma Galaxy withdraws from the $1 million Games of the Future event after backlash". esports.gg. 2024-06-08. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ "US concerned about Russia's growing influence in e-sports arena: Letter to NSA reveals". News9live. 2024-02-07. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ "Minsk Cycling Club Team Won Gold at the Games of the Future". The Stadium Business. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ Lojo, Michelle. "AP Bren repeats over ONIC for 'Games of the Future' crown". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ Lojo, Michelle. "Games of the Future 2024 (WoT)". esportsearnings.com. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ "Games of the Future 2025 will take place outside of Russia | ONE Esports". www.oneesports.gg. 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ "Phygital sports: UAE wins bid to host Games of the Future 2025". gulfbusiness.com. 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ "Kazakhstan to Host the Games of the Future 2026". www.oneesports.gg. 2024-10-15. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ "The 2026 Future Games will be held in Kazakhstan". qazalem.kz. 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2025-02-12.