Fusing the physical and digital worlds, next year’s edition of the annual international event is scheduled for autumn.
A rigorous bidding process behind the scenes later, it’s official: Dubai will host Games of the Future 2025, as announced at the inaugural World Phygital Summit recently held in Istanbul, Turkey. A total of nine potential hosts were in the running for the opportunity, but between the city’s top-tier infrastructure and proven track record in hosting major international events, the decision was unanimous.
Scheduled for next autumn, this pinnacle event of the phygital sporting calendar will fuse the worlds of physical and digital, and promises to be a sporting extravaganza unlike any other — Games of the Future 2025 will bring together the next generation of dynamic sporting heroes from far and wide to compete in a diverse range of disciplines and challenges like phygital football, phygital hockey, and phygital MMA. Teams worldwide are already in the process of qualifying via the World Phygital Community and participating in its Phygital Games 2024/25 tournament season as we speak.
ICYMI, the city launched the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 last year, aimed at attracting technology giants, as well as digital, gaming and experiential talent from across the globe. This citywide, ten-year programme is now fully focused on building and growing the ever-expanding phygital community, and will act as a hub aimed at nurturing phygital development and excellence while serving as host city (and beyond). Games of the Future, incidentally, places no restrictions on its participants and will welcome everyone, regardless of their age, gender and nationality. We’re told that tournament operator Phygital International is expecting thousands of world-class athletes and esports persons from as many as 100 countries to compete as part of national and multinational teams.
“There can be no doubt of Dubai’s status as the world leader and a hub for the brightest and best in sports and technology,” said His Excellency Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Director-General of the General Authority of Sports. “It is therefore a natural step for Dubai to play host to the Games of the Future 2025, building on its platform of excellence and directing this towards being a key part of the phygital movement and this great tournament. Hosting the Games of the Future 2025 next autumn will showcase Dubai’s extensive experience in delivering world class sporting tournaments, but also send a message to the world that Dubai is dedicated to growing and building a truly global phygital community rooted in innovation and excellence.”
Adding to the conversation, Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International said: “It could not be a more exciting proposition. Players and teams from around the world will be able to enjoy not only what promises to be an unsurpassed phygital competitive experience, but also have the opportunity to soak up the city’s unparallelled tech, sport and gaming culture.”
DSCVR: Games of the Future 2025. Dubai. @gamesofthefutureuae
