Games of the Future - The Times Of Central Asia

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Games of the Future

Peru’s PlayTime Wins Dota 2 Title at Astana Games of the Future

Peruvian team PlayTime won the $1 million Dota 2 tournament at the Games of the Future 2026 in Astana, defeating China's Yakult Brothers 3-0 in the grand final. The 16-team competition included clubs from China, Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, and Kazakhstan. PlayTime received $350,000, while Yakult Brothers earned $160,000 as runners-up. China's Team Resilience claimed third place after defeating Kazakhstan's Rune Eaters 2-0. Team Resilience collected $120,000, while Rune Eaters received $70,000 for finishing fourth. Team Resilience player Kongbo "Niu" Li said the team gained confidence after the opening map and maintained control throughout the series, according to the official Games of the Future website. For Rune Eaters, the highlight was a quarterfinal victory over China's LGD.Pinghu. Alim "aik" Bespayev said the win was the emotional high point of the team's campaign, while the semifinal defeat affected its preparation for the third-place match. Rune Eaters finished fourth after reaching the semifinals. The Games of the Future run from July 29 to August 9, bringing together more than 800 athletes representing over 50 nationalities across eight phygital and esports disciplines. The updated total prize pool is $4.65 million. The Games began in Kazan in 2024 and were held in Abu Dhabi in 2025. Astana is the first Central Asian city to host the tournament. Kazakhstan was selected over Peru and Chile after President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed bringing the Games to the country during the inaugural event in Kazan. Earlier, The Times of Central Asia reported that China's 17 Gaming became the first champions of the Astana Games after winning the PUBG: Battlegrounds tournament.

Games of the Future

China’s 17 Gaming Wins PUBG: Battlegrounds Title at Kazakhstan’s Games of the Future

China’s 17 Gaming became the first champion crowned at the Games of the Future 2026 in Astana after winning the three-day PUBG: Battlegrounds competition. Sixteen teams played 15 matches for shares of a $1 million prize fund. 17 Gaming received $300,000 for first place. This was DIGA Esports’ first tournament of this scale. The Kazakhstani team finished 14th with 59 points and received $15,000. It won the eighth match in front of the home crowd at Beeline Arena. “The first day was about adapting to the tournament. It became easier on the second day, and I think we performed well on the third,” DIGA Esports player Sanzhar Kaliyev said in comments published by the Games of the Future. “Some of our players had never even competed in major European tournaments before, while here we were facing world champions. So finishing 14th against teams of this caliber is not a bad result for newcomers.” Kazakhstan approved a government esports development strategy in June 2025. The document estimated that around 3.5 million people in the country were interested in esports and online gaming in 2024. The strategy calls for leagues in schools and universities. It also proposes regional competitions and at least one national or international esports tournament each year. A Central Asian esports hub is listed as a long-term goal. Kazakhstan has also hosted other major competitions. In 2025, Astana staged PGL Astana 2025, a Counter-Strike 2 tournament organized by the Bucharest-based esports company PGL. Almaty hosted the PUBG Mobile Super League Central & South Asia. The sector has also received increased government support and investment. Phygital basketball is the next discipline to conclude, with its champion due to be decided on August 3. Running until August 9, the tournament features more than 800 competitors representing over 50 nationalities across eight disciplines and has a total prize fund of $4.65 million. Competitions include esports and phygital disciplines held in both digital and physical stages.

Games of the Future

From Controllers to Courts: Kazakhstan Prepares for Games of the Future

When the basketball begins in Astana on July 29, two players from each team will sit at screens and chase 19 digital points. After that stage, they will take the score onto a real 2-on-2 court. The physical game continues until one side reaches 39, meaning a lead earned with a controller can disappear beneath the rim. That switch gives the Games of the Future its human appeal. The format asks athletes to handle screen timing, then contact and fatigue on the court. It also creates an unfamiliar training problem. A gifted basketball player can fall behind before reaching the court, while a strong gamer still has to run, defend, and rebound. Before June’s Astana qualifier, Uzbek under-23 basketball player Tolegen Ismatov explained what first drew him to the faster 3x3 game. “I was immediately drawn to the speed, the emotions, and the responsibility for every moment on the court,” he said. The main Games will run from July 29 to August 9. More than 800 competitors from over 50 nationalities are due to contest eight disciplines for a prize pool which stands above $4 million. The events will use four Astana venues, including the Barys Arena and the Qazaqstan Athletics Sports Complex. For local spectators, the event is priced more like a day out than a global championship. Standard tickets start at 4,000 tenge (about $8.50), while phygital fighting starts at 7,500 tenge. Admission to the dance competition at the 12,000-seat Barys Arena is free. The Score Carries Onto the Court Basketball opens the program on July 29. Four players make up each team, with two competing at a time. The digital stage ends when one side reaches 19 points. Play then moves to the court, where the first team to reach a combined score of 39 wins. A tie leads to a free-throw shootout. Football follows the same basic logic. Teams play two short halves in the UFL video game, then move to a five-a-side pitch. In the shooter event, clubs begin with Counter-Strike 2, then move into laser tag, where players must communicate while running through a physical space. The field mixes famous club badges with esports names. Boca Juniors and Valencia Basket are in the basketball draw. Peñarol and Los Troncos FC will meet in football. Dota 2 and PUBG each carry a $1 million prize pool, the largest shares of the total. Kazakh teams also appear throughout the draw, giving home crowds someone to follow in several arenas. GTB KZ opens its basketball campaign against qualifier champion Zagrebacki malisani NITUI. Team KZ begins the shooter competition against Mirage Team. Astana’s PBC Astana is also in the basketball field, while ACF x Allur represents the host country in football. Uzbekistan has a visible place in the regional cast. Dancer Sogdiana Abdukhalikova opens against Lala Gevorgyan on August 6. Her performance will be measured by automated scoring for timing and movement accuracy, rather than a panel holding up cards. A Smaller Event Than First Promised The Astana...

Sports

Kazakhstan to Host Third Future Games in 2026

Kazakhstan will host the third edition of the international Games of the Future tournament in the summer of 2026, combining traditional sports with their digital counterparts in a unique “phygital” format. The event will take place in Astana from July 18 to August 1, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev announced at a recent briefing. The Games of the Future is an annual global competition where athletes compete in both physical and digital disciplines, with overall scores determined by performance in both categories. The inaugural tournament was held in Kazan, Russia, in early 2024. The second edition is scheduled for December 2025 in the United Arab Emirates, while Kazakhstan will host the third installment in 2026. Over 1,500 athletes from nearly 100 countries are expected to participate in the event, which will feature 13 phygital disciplines. Competitions will be held at several of Astana’s premier sports venues, including the Qazaqstan Sports Complex, Barys Ice Arena, Saryarka Velodrome, Zhekkpe-Zhek Martial Arts Palace, Alaou Ice Palace, Beeline Arena Tennis Center, and the Inclusive Sports Center. The tournament is being organized by the government of Kazakhstan in partnership with Phygital International, a global organization representing 98 member countries. Diverse Disciplines and Substantial Prize Pool Disciplines confirmed for the 2026 tournament include: Phygital Football (soccer), Phygital Fighting (martial arts), Phygital Basketball, Phygital Dancing, Phygital Hockey, Phygital Shooter (tactical combat), Phygital Battle Royale (multiplayer battles), two MOBA disciplines (team esports games), Phygital Drone Racing, Battle Bots (robot battles), Phygital Boxing, and Cybathletics (competitions involving technology-enhanced athletes). The total prize fund will amount to $10 million. According to Alibek Khasenov, president of Kazsportinvest JSC, “The funds will be distributed among the 13 disciplines, some will receive more, some less. All funding, including organizational costs and prize money, will be provided exclusively through sponsorship.” Khasenov noted that several Kazakhstani companies have already shown interest in sponsoring the event. The first edition of the tournament in Kazan reportedly garnered over 3.5 billion views across digital platforms. Rescheduled Due to Flood Recovery Efforts Originally, Kazakhstan was set to host the second Games of the Future in 2025. However, in the aftermath of unprecedented spring floods in 2024, the government reprioritized spending to address recovery efforts. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, this led to the postponement of several high-cost and image-driven events, including the Future Games, which have now been rescheduled for 2026.