Latest phygital news

Dota 2 returns to Games of the Future in Astana with US$1M prize pool

Dota 2 will return to the Games of the Future 2026 in Astana, reaffirming the event’s place on the global esports calendar. The world’s top teams will compete for a US$1 million prize pool, with main stage matches hosted at the 5,000-seat Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace.

The title made a major impact at GOTF 2025 in Abu Dhabi, where underdogs Win claimed the championship without dropping a single game, defeating Vikings 2–0 in the Grand Final.

Valencia Femenino make history as first women’s team to take part in Spanish phygital tournament

A milestone for women in phygital basketball took place in Valencia as Valencia Femenino became the first women’s team to compete in a ranked phygital tournament in Spain.

Valencia Femenino make their Spanish phygital debut

The Phygital Rivals event, held at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, brought together athletes from across the country to compete for the chance to take part in Games of the Future Astana 2026 in July. Organizers say the presence of a women’s basketball team highlights the accessibility of the format and could encourage more female athletes to enter phygital competitions in the future.

The tournament also showcased Spain’s emerging phygital talent across several disciplines. Noname claimed the Phygital Football title, Valencia Basket secured victory in Phygital Basketball, Luis Carlos Soto won Phygital Dancing, and Turtles Clan triumphed in Phygital Shooter.

FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves confirmed for Phygital Fighting at GOTF 2026

FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves will power the digital stage of Phygital Fighting at the Games of the Future 2026 in Astana.

The competition will take place on 7–8 August at the Athletics Sports Complex “Qazaqstan”, where athletes will compete in a hybrid format combining gameplay with live bouts for a $500,000 prize pool.

Phygital Fighting made its debut at GOTF 2025 in Abu Dhabi and drew strong live attendance and 27.7 million cumulative streaming views. Known for its timing-based combat and iconic characters, FATAL FURY was named Best Fighting Game of the Year in 2025.

Spencer Field appointed commercial director at Phygital International

Phygital International has appointed Spencer Field as its new commercial director. A lawyer and chartered accountant by training, Spencer began his career helping build the commercial operation at Opta – pioneering data analytics in football before the company’s acquisition by Sky. He later held senior commercial roles at IMG, News International and the National Basketball Association, before leading the sponsorship strategy and commercial redevelopment at Watford FC.

Field now joins Phygital International at a pivotal stage as the organization expands the global footprint of the Games of the Future. Read our first interview with Spencer, in which he outlines his immediate plans for the brand.