The history of the Games of the Future

History

The Games of the Future is an international multi-discipline event that integrates sports, science and technology. The innovative show combines competitions in physical and digital domains – phygital – testing athletes in the real and virtual worlds. The competitions will pose physical challenges or puzzles that players they need to solve with the help of mobile apps or other digital technology, such as augmented reality (AR).

"The Games of the Future are not just sports competitions, but a new philosophy of life and personal growth, based on the values that are common to the whole world: fairness, skill, knowledge, and pursuit of excellence. The Games of the Future format is adaptable for phygital sports and does not require huge investments in sporting equipment. The Games of the Future in Kazan will set new regulations and rules for tournaments," says Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

Phygital sports work towards the mission of the Games of the Future, which is to promote harmonious personal growth. It’s a new movement that shapes people of the future who know no boundaries between the digital and physical worlds.

"There is a certain conflict of interest between those young people who take up traditional sports and those who prefer cyber sports. Games of the Future will help find the perfect balance. I am absolutely convinced that the phygital movement will give an impetus to sports in Russia and abroad. These competitions will show that sport should be free from discrimination," says Oleg Matytsin, Minister of Sports of Russia. The Games of the Future multi-discipline tournament was first unveiled on September 8, 2021, as part of the Russia – Country of Sports international forum in Kazan, and on September 21 to 23, 2022, the first Phygital Games in the disciplines of phygital football, phygital basketball, Beat Saber and drone racing were held in the capital of Tatarstan.

"When we saw pictures of the venues, how it's all lit up, the DJs, the stands, how everything is organized here – it's really over the edge! I hope this movement will keep on growing in scale," Edams Sklyar of Fake Football shared.

On January 31, 2023, by the order of the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation No.58, phygital sports was recognized and included in the first section of the register of sporting disciplines (that are not national, military- or service-related disciplines), as well as sports promoted at the national level.

The Ministry’s order laid the groundwork for the establishment of the Russian Federation of Phygital Sports (VFFS), which was created on February 22, 2023. "We have seen how within just a few years cybersports has been recognized as sports. Five years ago, when it had just entered the register of official disciplines, there was misunderstanding, jokes and talk about how ‘anyone can hit buttons’. I believe that cybersports in Russia will not stop at the Games of the Future. The main thing is to keep this cause alive. The history of classic cybersports shows that awareness does not come at the snap of a finger, it takes time," said Maxim Denisov, director general of the Directorate of Sports and Social Projects autonomous nonprofit organization.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, more than 50 countries have already confirmed their participation in the Games of the Future, which will be held in Kazan from February 23 to March 2, 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited teams from partner countries to the tournament. "We will be happy to welcome teams from BRICS countries at next year's international tournament of the Games of the Future to be held in Kazan," Putin said at the 2023 BRICS summit via video link.

In turn, Igor Stolyarov, the Games’ project manager, spoke about the development of phygital sports and the innovations planned for the Games of the Future in Kazan. "Phygital sports now have their niche and followers. It's all about a novel show, a novel image and novel spectators. For the fans we will offer an electronic arena app, which you can use to control your experience with your phone, create your avatar and share emotions. The avatar can watch their team, showing joy and sadness, with the emotions displayed on the phone screen. In the app itself, we made a virtual copy of the arena where you and the little person you create will exist.”

Disciplines

Challenge: Sports

Classic sports combined with their digital counterparts.

  • Phygital Football

    A double event in which teams begin by competing in Volta football (two halves of two minutes each), then play a physical game of football on the pitch, two halves of five minutes each with teams of five players. Victory is awarded to the team that scores more total goals across the two stages of the phygital contest. Ties are broken by a penalty shoot-out. Sixteen teems take part in the tournament. The group stage is held in a GSL-style format, proceeding into an Olympic-style single-elimination play-off.

  • Phygital Basketball

    A combination of a digital basketball simulator and physical 2 v. 2 basketball. During the digital stage competitors play 2 v. 2 games on console until one team scores 19, then face off on the court, where the match lasts seven minutes or until one team scores 39. Victory is decided by the combined total score across the two stages, ties are broken by a series of free throws. Sixteen teams take part in the tournament. The group stage is held in a GSL-style format, proceeding into an Olympic-style single-elimination play-off.

  • Phygital Hockey

    A combination of digital and physical hockey, both played in a 3 v. 3 format. In the digital stage, teams compete in a simulator (three periods of three minutes each, Threes Eliminator mode); in the physical stage, they meet in the hockey rink, playing three periods of seven minutes each. Victory is awarded to the team that scores more across the two stages, ties are broken by a series of penalty shots. Eight teams take part in the tournament. The group stage is held in a GSL-style format, proceeding into an Olympic-style single-elimination play-off.

  • Phygital Combat

    A double event where participants first compete in a simulator, then fight in a real cage according to MMA rules. Points scored in the two stages combine. Simulated fights proceed under the Bo9 format, with each round lasting 60 seconds. The physical MMA fight comprises three three-minute rounds. In case of a point tie after the phygital match-up, additional factors are weighed in. Eight teams of four fighters take part in the tournament in four weight categories (65.8kg, 70.3kg and 77.1kg for men, 56.7kg for women).

  • Phygital Racing

    A combination of digital racing and physical kart racing. Drivers compete first in a digital simulator, then on a real track. The phygital race consists of a qualification and a final race. The finals are a mixed relay: the first and fourth stages are held in a Formula 4 format, and the second and third are simulated. Fourteen teams of two racers each take part in the competition.

  • Phygital Skateboarding

    In phygital skateboarding participants show off their skills both in a simulator and in a real-life skatepark. After a participant completes an attempt in the skatepark, their partner must perform the same tricks in the game, repeating them as precisely as possible. Victory is decided by the combined total points scored across the two stages. The tournament consists of qualifications, semifinals and finals. Sixteen teams are taking part.

  • Virtual Bicycle Racing

    A one-day virtual cycleing team event. The competition includes five stages: individual time trial, elimination race, single-finish race, Tempo race and points race. Victory is awarded to the team that scores the most points total across all the stages. Twelve teams take part.

  • Phygital BMX

    A combination of physical and simulated freestyle BMX. The tournament uses an Olympic-style elimination system, with eight teams of three riders each. Each competition includes three stages: simulation, physical park and physical street. All are played under ‘Game of Bike’ rules: riders take turns performing tricks and challenging their opponents to match them. Failing to match eight such challenges leads to elimination, and whoever fails the fewest challenges wins.

Challenge: Tactical

A combination of popular tactical first-person shooter games and physical competitions in a laser tag arena.

  • CS2 + laser tag

    Counter-Strike 2, the legendary tactical first-person shooter, combined with a laser tag battle. In the digital stage teams play 5 v. 5 matches until one scores 13 victories. In the physical stage the goal is to activate a ‘digital flame’, with teams competing until one wins six rounds. Victory is decided by the total of rounds won across the two stages. In the case of a tie the number of frags scored and other factors come into play. Eight teams take part in the competition. Group stages are organized on a round-robin bases; the play-offs are single elimination.

  • Standoff 2 + laser tag

    The Russian tactical first-person shooter Standoff 2 combined with a laser tag battle. In the digital stage teams play 5 v. 5 matches until one scores 11 victories. In the physical stage the goal is to activate a ‘digital flame’, with teams competing until one wins six rounds. Victory is decided by the total of rounds won across the two stages. In the case of a tie the number of frags scored and other factors come into play. Eight teams take part in the competition. Group stages are organized on a round-robin bases; the play-offs are single elimination.

  • Warface + laser tag

    The popular Russian first-person shooter Warface combined with a laser tag battle. In the digital stage teams play 5 v. 5 matches until one scores 11 victories. In the physical stage the goal is to activate a ‘digital flame’, with teams competing until one wins six rounds. Victory is decided by the total of rounds won across the two stages. In the case of a tie the number of frags scored and other factors come into play. Eight teams take part in the competition. Group stages are organized on a round-robin bases; the play-offs are single elimination.

Challenge: Strategy

Popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) and strategy games combined with a series of trials testing the participants’ endurance and quick thinking.

  • Dota 2 + superfinals

    Teams show off their skills in one of the best-known MOBA games, Dota 2. Matches are played in a 5 v. 5 format until one of the teams scores two victories. Sixteen teams are participating in the tournament. The group stage is held in a GSL format, the play-offs are single elimination (Bo3). In the superfinals, the winner is decided in one of three disciplines – phygital football, phygital basketball or laser tag – chosen by the team captains. The winner gets an additional prize.

  • Mobile Legends: Big Bang + superfinals

    Participants compete in the popular MOBA game Mobile Legends: Bug Bang. Matches are played in a 5 v. 5 format until one of the teams scores two victories. Sixteen teams are participating in the tournament. The group stage is held in a GSL format, the play-offs are single elimination (Bo3). In the superfinals, the winner is decided in one of three disciplines – phygital football, rhythm simulator or laser tag – chosen by the team captains. The winner gets an additional prize.

  • World of Tanks + superfinals

    Teams battle it out in the popular Russian videogame World of Tanks. In the group stage and play-off, matches are played in a 7 v. 7, the first team to five victories wins, except for the final match, which is Bo13. Eight teams take part. Всего в турнире выступят восемь команд. The group stage is held in a GSL format, the play-offs are single elimination. In the superfinals, the winner is decided in one of three disciplines – phygital football, phygital basketball or laser tag – chosen by the team captains. The winner gets an additional prize.

Challenge: Speedrun

A combination of speedrunning popular videogames in a relay format, and a series of trials testing the participants endurance and quick thinking.

  • Speedrunning + superfinals

    Participants from eight teams compete in speedrunning video games. They have three groups of games to choose from: Retro PC (Earthworm Jim, Streets of Rage 2, Battletoads), Retro console (Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Shrek 2), and Modern PC (Cuphead, HITMAN 3, Dark Souls 3). The tournament uses a team scoring system, with the best four teams proceeding to the superfinals to compete in one of three disciplines – phygital football, rhythm simulator or laser tag – chosen by the team captains. The winner gets an additional prize.

Challenge: Technical

Participants compete in drone racing, robot battles and VR competitions.

  • Cybathletics

    A discipline in which physically-challenged athletes perform various tasks on a specialized track, utilizing rehabilitation technology. Ten teams of four athletes each take part. From the group stage, four teams proceed to the semifinals; the play-off is held under the Olympic elimination system. In each stage, athletes perform six elements on the track. The goal is to perform the tasks without mistakes and within the 15-minute time limit.

  • Dance simulator

    Participants must match the moves of the on-screen dancer. The more precise the execution, the more points are awarded. Sixteen athletes take part, holding dance matches according to the Olympic elimination system in a Bo3 format (up to two wins in a round). To win a round one has to score more points in one musical track.

  • VR rhythm simulator

    In VR, participants earn points by lightsaber slashing and dodging incoming blocks to the rhythm of a musical track. Winning will take agility, endurance and alertness, as the contest also features mines that must not be touched. Sixteen teams will compete according to an Olympic-style elimination system. All matches are played in a Bo3 format, except the final one, which is Bo5.

  • Drone racing

    Teams compete in a circuit relay race, with one team member piloting the drone and the other being the mechanic responsible for pit stops. After qualification races on a simulator, participants are placed in four groups. The main event is a 50-lap races in which every pilot must finish 25 laps.

  • Competitive programming

    Participants compete in solving algorithmic tasks. A total of 50 programmers compete in a two-round event, with each round lasting five hours. In each round, 12 tasks must be solved by writing algorithmic code. Whoever performs the most tasks correctly and does so in the shortest time, wins.

  • Battle of robots

    The primary mission of the phygital project is to promote harmonious development in humans by bringing together digital and physical sports, ultimately helping the participants personal growth and fulfilment both in the day-to-day life and the virtual realms.

Mission

The primary mission of the phygital project is to promote harmonious development in humans by bringing together digital and physical sports, ultimately helping the participants personal growth and fulfilment both in the day-to-day life and the virtual realms.

Objectives

of regional branches of the Phygital Sports Federation:

  • promote the development of the phygital movement in the region
  • test new hybrid disciplines
  • create school, student, amateur and professional leagues
  • assist in the organization of tournaments

Values

  • harmonious development
  • openness
  • adaptability
  • technological advancement

Mascot

MIRA the Firebird, the Games of the Future mascot, was designed by Maria Romashka, Alina Khasyanova and Daria Sidakova, university students from the Republic of Tatarstan.

“The firebird is a magical creature, which is one of the most famous symbols of Russian folk mythology. With its bright appearance, it attracts attention and interest from people of all ages. The firebird is sought after by explorers, people who believe in themselves and are ready to discover new horizons. MIRA will share its strength with those who are ready to fight and succeed," the authors believe.

The name of the mascot (‘mir’ translates from Russian both as ‘peace’ and ‘world’) symbolizes peace and unification of the nations that are taking part in the Games of the Future. It is simple and easy to pronounce in different languages, while also invoking the English word ‘miracle’ and the name of one of the oldest stars known to mankind, Mira (Latin for ‘wonderful’). The modern firebird will become a symbol of uniting tradition and innovation, of openness to new experience and technologies, and will serve as a guide to the future of sports.

Mascot

Trophy

The concept of the Games of the Future trophy was developed by students of the Generative Design Laboratory at St. Petersburg State University, and then delivered to an architect in Kazan.

The trophy is made of two materials: classic brushed metal and a more innovative polymer, acryl. Inside the trophy, there are five plates that symbolize the five challenges: sports, tactics, strategy, speed, and technology.

A light is burning inside the trophy, which symbolically links it to the mascot of the Games of the Future, MIRA the Firebird, which is essentially light itself. The phygital flame, the emblem of phygital sports, is carved in the center of the trophy on the outside. At the top left is the name in English: Phygital GAMES of the FUTURE, and below the location and year of the games are engraved: KAZAN 2024.

The trophy to be awarded at the Games in 2024 will have the name of the discipline and the name of the winning team added at the bottom.

Trophy