Abu Dhabi equips „The Games of the Future 2025“ with a range of phygital disciplines

Eleven phygital disciplines announced – Abu Dhabi prepares to welcome phygital athletes and fans in December 2025

[datensicherheit.de, 08|10|2025] Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), reports that the so-called Games of the Future 2025 are set to enliven the global sporting calendar with a high-calibre line-up of phygital disciplines; a fusion of physical athletics and ‘immersive digital gameplay’. From December 18th to 23rd, 2025, the hybrid tournament will take place at the ‘Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre’ (ADNEC), where the world’s best phygital athletes will compete in eleven state-of-the-art disciplines over six days.

photo: Games of the Future

Athletes in the discipline of ‘phygital fighting’

‘Games of the Future’ as the highlight of the phygital sports calendar

With total prize money of five million US dollars, ‘phygital clubs’ and athletes from around the world will compete for the right to become champions in their respective disciplines.

The ‘Games of the Future’ are therefore the highlight of the phygital sports calendar – and every element of this tournament is designed ‘to appeal to both physical and digital audiences’.

The 11 phygital disciplines that will be contested at the ‘Games of the Future 2025’:

• Phygital Football
  Begins with a football video game before the athletes play football on a pitch.
• Phygital Basketball
  A round of basketball video game, followed by physical action on the court.
• Phygital Fighting
  Athletes first compete in a fighting video game and then continue the fight in a physical arena.
• Phygital Dancing
  Athletes match their live movements to an interactive rhythm video game.
• Phygital Shooter
  Clubs compete against each other in a digital ‘shooter’ round, followed by a round of ‘laser tag’.
• Battle Royale
  A competition format in which clubs battle to be the last one standing.
• MOBA PC
  A ‘multiplayer online battle arena’ tournament on PC.
• MOBA Mobile
  A ‘multiplayer online battle arena’ tournament played on mobile phones.
• Drone Racing
  Pilots navigate high-speed drones through an obstacle course using first-person view headsets.
• VR Games
  Virtual environments in which players rely on their reflexes and spatial awareness.
• Battle of Robots
  Remote-controlled robots compete against each other in fast-paced head-to-head battles.

To be at the top of these eleven disciplines, a new class of athletes is needed, ‘who combine physical abilities and digital skills and perform under high pressure in a groundbreaking and exciting new event format that will attract fans of all ages’.

‘Games of the Future’ as a global stage for innovation, inclusion and imagination

Stéphane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE, comments: ‘This tournament brings together elite clubs and pioneering experiences. Hosting the “Games of the Future” in Abu Dhabi reflects our commitment to advancing the global discussion on the future connection between sport and technology, and Abu Dhabi is the perfect host for this bold experiment.’ With the UAE’s ‘Vision 2031’ and the ‘Year of Community’ in mind, the aim is to promote diverse participation, joint innovation and new connections between cultures and generations.

‘With the confirmation of these eleven disciplines and the prize pool, Abu Dhabi is ready to be the centre of phygital sports at this year’s exciting global “Games of the Future”,’ underlines Nis Hatt, CEO of Phygital International. Athletes and fans will join them in experiencing the ‘thrilling and exciting experience of Phygital Sports,’ which has been developed for the next generation. ‘As guardians of the “Phygital Movement” we are proud to bring the “Games of the Future” to life. This is a global stage for innovation, inclusion and imagination!’

‘Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi’: Football tournament as final qualifying phase

Before the focus shifts to the ‘Games of the Future’ in December 2025, the ‘Phygital Contenders: Abu Dhabi’ football tournament took place at the ‘ADNEC’. This transformed the venue into a dynamic arena in which participants from all over the world took part in the final qualifying phase ‘to compete for a place in the “Phygital Football” discipline at this year’s “Games of the Future”’. The tournament provided the 21 participating clubs with a hyper-interactive setting in which tactical intelligence and athletic precision came together. ‘Athletes and fans got a first taste of the energy that will characterise the Games of the Future in 2025.’

ADNEC will also serve as the venue for the ‘Games of the Future’ in December 2025. ‘As a dynamic space built specifically for innovation and scale, it will be transformed into a futuristic arena suitable for this groundbreaking global event, providing the ideal environment for a world-class “phygital sports” spectacle.’ With its strategic infrastructure and outstanding achievements, Abu Dhabi continues to position itself as a leading location for international events at the intersection of technology, sport and culture.

Phygital International as the global organiser of so-called phygital sports

Phygital International (PI) is the global organiser of so-called phygital sports and focuses on innovating and redefining this sport. It is the administrator and rights holder of the ‘Games of the Future’ and oversees the application process for each host city.

• The ‘Games of the Future’ are intended to be an annual international event that merges the worlds of physical and digital sports and represents the pinnacle of ‘phygital sports’.

The tournament brings together the next generation of ‘Phygital Sporting Heroes’ from around the world to compete in various phygital disciplines and challenges. The ‘Games of the Future 2025’ will take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, while the ‘Games of the Future 2026’ are scheduled to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, the following year.

ASPIRE aims to drive the development of future transformative technologies

ASPIRE is considered the innovation accelerator of the Abu Dhabi Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) and aims to drive the development of future transformative technologies. ATRC is responsible for defining Abu Dhabi’s research and development strategy, consolidating funds for efficient investment, and promoting policy development and regulation.

ASPIRE works in consultation with cross-sector stakeholders from industry, universities and research institutes to formulate problems. In addition, major challenges and international competitions are announced to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. ‘ASPIRE brings together exceptional people, ideas, resources and technologies to solve complex challenges.’

ETHARA is responsible for the future of entertainment, sports, culture, event services and asset management

ETHARA aims to shape the future of entertainment, sports, culture, event services and asset management at regional and international level: ‘With offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh, the company employs more than 300 professionals who offer an unrivalled wealth of expertise, experience, knowledge and skills.’

‘Ethara’ (which means ‘thrill’ in Arabic) operates a diverse portfolio of facilities, including the ‘Yas Marina Circuit’, ‘Etihad Park’, ‘Etihad Arena’, ‘Yas Conference Centre’, ‘Zayed Sports City’ and ‘House of Sustainability’. The company works with leading event agencies, intellectual property owners and entertainment partners at local and international level to deliver world-class, first-to-market events and experiences.

Further information on this topic:

PHYGITAL INTERNATIONAL
ABOUT PHYGITAL: WHAT IS PHYGITAL SPORT?

PHYGITAL GAMES OF THE FUTURE
Discover the disciplines

ASPIRE
Connecting Ideas, Driving Breakthroughs

ETHARA
MAKING MOMENTS THAT MATTER / They happen – only once

datensicherheit.de, 05/30/2025
PHYGITAL INTERNATIONAL confirms Abu Dhabi as the venue for “Games of the Future 2025“ / UAE capital welcomes participants and fans to international phygital sports event from December 18th to 23rd, 2025