The second edition of the Games of the Future kicked off yesterday (July 29 2026) in Astana, Kazakhstan. Running through August 9, the tournament features over 800 participants from 50 countries competing across eight "phygital" disciplines for a total prize pool exceeding $4 million.
Following its 2025 edition in Abu Dhabi, the hybrid sporting event combines esports titles such as Dota 2 and PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS with traditional sports competitions.What are the Games of the Future?
Promoted by Phygital International, the Games of the Future format merges elite physical athletic performance with esports. Matches are structured across two distinct stages: a digital phase played on PC, console or mobile, immediately followed by a physical match on a dedicated court, field, or arena.
« The Games of the Future Astana 2026 represent another major milestone for the global phygital movement. Over the coming days, the world's best phygital athletes will compete across eight disciplines, showcasing the skill, innovation and sporting excellence that define this new era of sport. » — Dan Merkley, CEO de Phygital International
Format and Main Disciplines
A total of eight disciplines will take place across four venues in Astana:
- MOBA : Starts July 31 with DOTA 2 and MLBB (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang)..
- PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS: Starts July 31.
- Basketball : Underway since July 29.
- Additional Disciplines: Five following hybrid titles scheduled across the 12-day schedule ( Battle of robots, Football, Drone Racing, Phygital Shooter, Fighting)
The event opened at the Barys Arena with a ceremony attended by Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, alongside international sports and technology representatives.
Broadcasting and Viewership Context
The organizer, Phygital International, aims to expand the format's reach following the 2025 event in Abu Dhabi, which reportedly logged 461 million total views.
All matches throughout the 12-day competition will be streamed live on the organizer's primary platform: Phygital+ and also on regional media partners including Fox Sports Mexico, StarTimes, ESR TV, and local rights holder QazSport.
