The Games of the Future 2025 is set to bring together the world’s top phygital athletes for six days of competition across 11 disciplines. The event will take place from 18-23 December 2025 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The competition is organised by ASPIRE, the Local Delivery Authority for the Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025, in collaboration with Ethara, the Event Delivery Partner, and Phygital International, the global rights holder.
With a total prize pool of US$5 million on offer, phygital clubs and athletes from across the world will compete across the disciplines for first place.
The Games of the Future is the pinnacle of the phygital sports calendar, and every element of the tournament is curated to engage both physical and digital audiences.
The 11 disciplines that will be competed at the event are: Phygital Football, which will begin with a football video game before the athletes play football on a pitch; Phygital Basketball, a basketball video game round followed by physical on-court action; Phygital Fighting, where athletes first compete in a fighting video game then continue the bout in a physical arena; Phygital Dancing, participants will match their live movements to an interactive rhythm video game; Phygital Shooter, with clubs facing off in digital shooter round followed by a round of laser tag; Battle Royale: A competitive format where clubs fight to be the last club standing; MOBA PC: A Multiplayer Online Battle Arena tournament played on PC; MOBA Mobile: A Multiplayer Online Battle Arena tournament played on mobile; Drone Racing: Pilots navigate high speed drones through an obstacle course using first-person view headsets; VR Games: Virtual environments where players rely on reflexes and spatial awareness and Battle of Robots: Remote-controlled robots face off in fast-paced, head-to-head combat.
Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, said: “This tournament is where elite clubs and future-facing experiences converge. Hosting the Games of the Future in Abu Dhabi reflects our commitment to elevating the global conversation around the future blend of sport and technology, and Abu Dhabi makes the perfect host for this bold experiment. With UAE Vision 2031 and the Year of Community in mind, we’re fostering diverse participation, shared innovation, and new connections across cultures and generations.”
Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International, said: “With confirmation of these 11 disciplines and the prize pool, the stage is set for Abu Dhabi to be the centre of phygital sports in this year’s exciting, global Games of the Future. Athletes and fans will join us in experiencing the immersive and high-octane experience of phygital sports, which are built for the next generation. As the guardians of the phygital movement, we are proud to bring the Games of the Future to life. It is a global stage for innovation, inclusion, and imagination.”
Before the spotlight turns to the Games of the Future this December, Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi – Football took place at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, transforming the venue into a dynamic arena where global contenders participated in the final qualifying stage to fight for a place in the Phygital Football discipline at this year’s Games of the Future. The tournament set the stage for the 21 participating clubs in a hyper-interactive space where tactical smarts and athletic precision collided in sync. As the action unfolded, athletes and enthusiasts alike got a first taste of the energy that will define the Games of the Future 2025.
ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi will create dynamic space, purpose-built for innovation and scale, that will transform into a futuristic arena suitable for this ground-breaking global event - offering the ideal environment to deliver a world-class phygital sports showcase. Its strategic infrastructure and operational excellence continue to position Abu Dhabi as a leading destination for international events at the intersection of technology, sport, and culture.
