Games of the Future 2025 date confirmed

The second edition of the Games of the Future 2025 is set for 21 November 2025, Phygital International confirmed in a press release this week. The United Arab Emirates will host the event, winning over nine other hopefuls in a hugely competitive bidding process.

The Games of the Future is an annual, international and transformative event that fuses the worlds of physical sports and digital gaming. 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.

"This is more than just a competition - it's a convergence of global talent and innovation, where the world's best will come together in an unprecedented arena. Through phygital sports, a cutting-edge blend of physical and digital competition, we're redefining the possibilities in athletics and unveiling a transformative new chapter in the world of sports. We can’t wait to witness these future champions thrive and inspire," Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International, said in the organisation’s press release. 

The tournament brings together the next generation of athletes and gamers, as well as spectators from all over the world to compete in a diverse range of phygital disciplines and challenges.

The first four phygital disciplines for the Games have also been revealed; Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Shooter, and Phygital Dancing. Further exciting disciplines are to be announced over the coming months.

Qualifying for a hotly contested place at the undeniable pinnacle event in the phygital sporting calendar is well underway. World Phygital Community (WPC) members have already held GOTF Minors, which featured rival phygital athletes from specific parts of their country competing against each other in their chosen disciplines. 

The winners from the GOTF Minors have progressed to the GOTF Majors, where they will face GOTF Minor winners from their country.  The next step on the path to the Games of the Future is for the GOTF Major winners from around the world to compete in the GOTF 2025 Qualifiers.

Ranking in-country regional tournaments have already been completed, including the Serbia Phygital Basketball Tournament, as well as the Cameroon Phygital Basketball.

The future of sport is inclusive

The Games of the Future was named one of the 2024 Weibo GBA Emerging Influential Brands in Shanghai last month in recognition of the tournament’s pivotal role in shaping the future of sports and digital culture through the innovative, inclusive and impactful medium of phygital sports. 

Weibo also praised the Games of the Future for connecting diverse audiences around the world.

"The Games of the Future embodies our belief in a world where phygital sports inspire talent, unity, innovation, and progress. We are honoured that Weibo has recognised our efforts to redefine the boundaries of sports and technology and for celebrating our journey towards making this vision a reality," Hatt said.