Abu Dhabi to Host a Week of Phygital Gaming: Games of the Future Arrives in December

A big new gaming week lands in Abu Dhabi this winter

Organizers have confirmed that the Games of the Future 2025 will take place in Abu Dhabi over six days in mid-December, bringing a mix of live esports, so-called “phygital” competitions and exhibition shows to the capital. The announcement positions the event as a major festival rather than a single tournament: planners expect finals, exhibition matches, industry panels and fan experiences across several venues between 18 and 23 December 2025.

How the festival is set up and what visitors will see

The Games of the Future is being presented as a hybrid event that mixes in-person competition with digital and broadcast-first spectacles. Organizers describe a program built around three pillars: competitive finals for headline esports titles, experimental “phygital” races and matches that combine physical and virtual elements, and a broader festival program made up of talks, workshops and product demos.

Competition will be staged in a festival format. Each day will include a mix of finals and exhibition games: some days are slated for championship brackets and winners’ matches, while other days will focus on fan-facing shows and head-to-head celebrity contests. The phygital elements — which blend real-world courses, motion-tracked equipment and virtual overlays — are intended as marquee attractions designed to be both spectator-friendly and visually striking on live streams.

Panels and conferences are planned alongside the competitions, with slots for industry leaders, game developers and creators to talk about topics such as the future of live events, tech for mixed-reality play and the business of creator-led competitions. Organizers say the schedule aims to keep non-competitive visitors engaged with interactive demos and exhibitions, while giving broadcasters and streamers material for sustained coverage.

Who’s expected to turn up and why it matters

The announcement highlights that a number of global names from esports, streaming and entertainment will take part, covering pro teams, creators and crossover stars. While the full participant roster has not been published in detail in the initial release, the organisers said the bill will include premier pro squads from major regions, headline streamers with large followings, and a selection of creators known for blending gaming with live performance.

The presence of internationally known players and creators matters because they draw viewers and sponsors. Big names help turn an event into a televised and streamed spectacle, which in turn raises the profile of the venue city and the phygital format itself. For fans, this means the festival aims to feel like a TV-ready show as much as a tournament weekend.

Commercial partners and what Abu Dhabi stands to gain

The event is organized by Phygital International, which the release named as the lead promoter. It also referenced a slate of commercial partners and sponsors involved in staging the festival, spanning tech firms, consumer brands and regional tourism bodies. Organizers framed these relationships as part of a push to make Abu Dhabi a hub for next-generation live gaming experiences.

Economically, hosting a multi-day, international gaming festival can boost hotel bookings, airline traffic and local hospitality spending, and it gives the city media exposure in markets that care about gaming. For the industry, the event is another signal that organizers see value in blending physical spectacle with the streaming formats audiences now expect.

What the organizers said — and what they did not say

The press release included statements framing the festival as a landmark moment for phygital entertainment and a chance to showcase Abu Dhabi as a tech-forward events hub. Organizers emphasized ambition and scale, and expressed confidence that the mix of finals, exhibitions and panels would attract both local fans and international viewers.

The release did not publish a full day-by-day participant list or detailed prize figures in its initial summary, and a few interested parties named in broader promotional materials have not yet issued separate comments. That means some specifics — exact team lineups, the full list of streamers and detailed commercial terms — are likely to appear in follow-up announcements.

Practical details for attendees and the press

The Games of the Future runs from 18 to 23 December 2025 at venues across Abu Dhabi; the organizers say the program will split events between an indoor arena for headline matches and adjacent festival spaces for exhibitions and panels. Tickets, accreditation procedures for media and press contact details were referenced in the announcement; potential attendees should look for ticket drops and official accreditation windows published by the organizer in the weeks before the event.

If you plan to travel, expect a mix of paid ticket tiers (from single-day passes to multi-day packages) and separate media accreditation. Organizers also signaled plans for streaming coverage so remote viewers can follow the championship matches and showcase events.

Overall, the Games of the Future is being pitched as a six-day showcase designed to bring mainstream attention to a new form of live gaming. For Abu Dhabi, it is a visible step toward hosting higher-profile entertainment and tech events. For fans, it promises a crowded schedule of finals, spectacles and hands-on demos — with more participant details to come as the event approaches.

Sources

• prnewswire.com