Russian event organizer Phygital International has announced that Abu Dhabi will host the 2025 edition of the Games of the Future esports and gaming event. Revealed by release on Thursday, May 29, Abu Dhabi, principal emirate and capital of the UAE, will host the esports, sports, and gaming event from 18-23 of December, 2025.
The second edition of Phygital’s Games of the Future tournament, which features hybrid physical and digital sports (hence phygital), will see teams compete in both popular video games, as well as hybrid phygital versions of football, basketball, and dancing.
Image Credit: Phygital International
Games of the Future 2025 Will Be Hosted in Abu Dhabi
Phygital International first announced the UAE as hosts of Games of the Future in June 2024, but the host city and dates were not revealed until today (May 29). Alongside details of the upcoming event, Phygital International outlined the inclusion of multiple new and returning disciplines including Phygital Football and Phygital Shooter, as well as tech sports and esports.
The stated aim of Games of the Future 2025 is to hybridize many of the games played. As explained in their release “Each phygital discipline sees athletes first compete in a digital version of their sport, followed by competing in the same sport in real-life. Final results are determined by combining performance across both stages – blending the physical and virtual into one seamless competitive experience.”
The combination brings to mind something akin to chess boxing, an established sport where athletes first compete in chess, before engaging in a round of boxing.
Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International, expressed his excitement at the host city announcement:
“We’re thrilled that Abu Dhabi will welcome thousands of phygital athletes, clubs, and fans for the Games of the Future 2025,” said Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International. “With its bold vision for sport and technology, the UAE is the ideal stage for this groundbreaking event. Since the inaugural Games, phygital sports have grown into a global movement, and this year’s edition promises to be our most exciting yet . ” – Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International
The event is reportedly facilitated and shaped by the UAE’s “delivery authority,” ASPIRE, a seemingly government backed organization responsible for implementing events within the company. ASPIRE’s CEO, Stephane Timpano explained:
“As the UAE Delivery Authority, ASPIRE is proud to help shape the Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025 – a global platform where sport, technology, and imagination converge. From AI-powered mobility to immersive digital experiences, Abu Dhabi is where innovation meets impact. We look forward to welcoming the world to ADNEC this December for an event that will inspire the future of sport and technology.”
However, the Games of the Future event has faced criticism in the past due to its links to the Russian Federation. The 2024 edition also saw multiple teams withdraw from the event, especially within the Dota 2 community. These included Nigma Galaxy, Nouns, and Heroic.
Some have pointed out that Games of the Future can be roughly seen as analogous to the Esports World Cup – although as a sportswashing device for the Russian Federation rather than Saudi Arabia. Still, in an era where dozens of organizations compete at the EWC as partner teams, it seems likely many will also be willing to travel to UAE for this event.