Phygital International

What Phygital International does

Phygital International is the Dubai-based private organizer and rights-holder of the Games of the Future (GOTF), the world's flagship phygital sports competition, a hybrid format in which teams first compete in a licensed digital game (e.g., Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Just Dance, Fatal Fury, UFL, 3on3 Freestyle) and then transition to a live physical match in the same discipline, with combined scores determining winners. The company operates an integrated ecosystem spanning grassroots (Phygital Origins), national (Phygital Rivals), and qualification (Phygital Contenders) tournaments managed through the World Phygital Community across 82 member nations, the annual GOTF flagship event (Abu Dhabi 2025 drew 850+ participants from 60+ countries and 40,000+ on-site spectators; Astana 2026 is expected to host 900+ participants from 50+ countries), the proprietary Phygital+ OTT streaming platform (tv.gofuture.games), the PI LAB innovation unit (including the HURA remote-driving discipline), and the Phygital School Games youth initiative active in Guatemala, Colombia, and Brazil. Technology assets include cloud-based low-latency broadcasting infrastructure, the Phygital+ direct-to-consumer platform, and remote-vehicle control systems operating at distances up to 1500km. The business model combines five revenue streams: B2B event sponsorships (with ADNOC as power sponsor for GOTF 2025), host city hosting fees (Abu Dhabi, Kazakhstan), broadcast licensing across seven regional partners reaching 200+ countries, consumer ticket sales (tiered $6.80-$17 day passes plus VIP packages), and quote-based partnership packages marketed on multi-year contracts. The company is led by CEO Nis Hatt with senior leadership drawn from SportAccord, the NBA, IMG, the International Boxing Association, and the UN Office on Sport for Development and Peace, and operates from a 11-50 person headquarters in JLT, Dubai.

Name

Phygital International

Legal name

Phygital International

Website

https://phygitalinternational.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Phygital International is the Dubai-based organizer of the Games of the Future, a hybrid sports competition pairing licensed digital games with live physical matches, serving brands seeking 18-34 audiences, host city governments, game publishers, and a grassroots community across 82+ nations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hybrid Sports Events & Esports Competitions

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Spectator Sports (71121), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Olympic & Multi-Sport Governing Bodies (IOC/IPC, Continental Games Federations) (MPAKAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Sport Federations (IFs) (MPAKAFAB), Sports & Event Media Rights Licensing (MPADALAE), International Sports Broadcasters & Rights Networks (MPABAJAE)

Keywords

• Hybrid sports tournaments
• Phygital competitions
• Esports events management
• Multi-discipline sporting events
• Competitive gaming productions

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Sponsorships: Branded partnerships with organizations like ADNOC powering GOTF Abu Dhabi 2025. Sponsorship packages offering marketing and promotional opportunities across the Games of the Future tournament and year-round engagement.
2. Host City Partnerships: Hosting fees from cities and countries seeking to stage the Games of the Future, providing economic benefits, infrastructure development, and global exposure to host destinations.
3. Broadcasting Rights: Media partnerships with global streaming platforms and broadcasters including Sportworld, Huya, SOOP, StarTimes, TV BRICS, Ei Nerd, and BIGG for distribution of GOTF content across regions.
4. Ticket Sales: Direct consumer ticket sales for Games of the Future events, with tiered pricing for standard passes, student tickets, children's tickets, and VIP packages across multiple disciplines.
5. Partnership Packages: Commercial partnership opportunities including sponsorship, host city hosting rights, and various marketing activation options for brands to engage with the phygital audience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Phygital International is the global promoter and rights holder of the Games of the Future, an annual international hybrid sports tournament that combines physical athletic competition with digital gaming skills across disciplines such as Phygital Football, Basketball, Dancing, Shooter, and Fighting. The company operates the supporting World Phygital Community grassroots network across 115+ countries, the Phygital+ OTT streaming platform, and licensing partnerships with game publishers such as Ubisoft, Valve, KRAFTON, and SNK.

Product overview

Phygital International is the global governing body and promoter of phygital sport — a hybrid competition format combining physical athletic performance with digital gaming skills. The company's core product is the Games of the Future, an annual international tournament bringing together esports athletes and physical sport competitors across disciplines including Phygital Football (powered by UFL), Phygital Basketball (3on3 Freestyle), Phygital Dancing (Just Dance), Phygital Shooter (Counter-Strike 2), Phygital Fighting (FATAL FURY), and esports formats (Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG: Battlegrounds). Supporting products include the Phygital+ OTT streaming platform (tv.gofuture.games) for live and on-demand content, the Phygital Contenders qualification tournament series, the Phygital School Games youth initiative, the World Phygital Community (WPC) grassroots network active in 115+ countries, and the PI LAB innovation unit. The company also licenses major gaming titles from publishers including Ubisoft, Valve, Krafton, and SNK for use in phygital competition formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Phygital+: Direct-to-consumer streaming platform for Games of the Future content, live broadcasts, replays, and highlights.

Products and services

• Games of the Future Flagship annual international hybrid sports tournament combining physical sport with digital gaming competition across disciplines such as Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Dancing, Phygital Shooter, Phygital Fighting, MOBA PC, MOBA Mobile, and Battle Royale. Targets athletes, esports competitors, host cities, sponsors, and game publishers.
• Phygital+ OTT Platform Direct-to-consumer streaming platform for the Games of the Future ecosystem, offering live broadcasts, replays, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content for global audiences.
• Phygital Contenders Final qualification tournament series for the Games of the Future, bringing together clubs and athletes worldwide to compete for remaining spots at the main event across Phygital Football, Basketball, and Dancing disciplines.
• Phygital School Games Youth initiative integrating phygital sport into school curricula and national school games, combining digital gaming with physical competition in Phygital Football, Basketball, and Dancing for students.
• World Phygital Community (WPC) Global grassroots governance and development arm managing phygital sport growth, hosting Phygital Origins (regional) and Phygital Rivals (national) tournaments that feed into Games of the Future qualification across 115+ countries.
• PI LAB Phygital International's innovation and research unit focused on pioneering new disciplines and technologies within the phygital sport ecosystem.

Quantifiable outcome

• GOTF 2025 achieved 461 million broadcast views and 388 million social media views from 137 million unique viewers globally
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers35 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major, supporting and strategic.

• Just Dance / UbisoftflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 June 2026Official dance title returning for Phygital Dancing at GOTF 2026 with US$75,000 prize pool at Barys Arena.
• 3on3 FreestyleflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 May 2026Street basketball video game title powering Phygital Basketball discipline at GOTF 2026 with US$400,000 prize pool at Qazaqstan Athletics Complex.
• UFLflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 May 2026Free-to-play football simulator powering Phygital Football discipline at GOTF 2026 with US$625,000 prize pool. Emphasizes player control and competitive balance.
• PUBG: Battlegrounds / KRAFTONflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 May 2026Official Battle Royale title for GOTF 2026 with US$1 million prize pool at Beeline Arena.
• ticketon.kzcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2026Official ticketing partner for GOTF 2026 in Kazakhstan at ticketon.kz.
• Counter-Strike 2 / ValveflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 April 2026Official title for Phygital Shooter at GOTF 2026 with US$150,000 prize pool. Second consecutive year featuring at GOTF.
• Dota 2 / ValveflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 March 2026Official MOBA PC title returning to GOTF 2026 with US$1 million prize pool at Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace.
• FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves / SNKflagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 March 2026Official digital title for Phygital Fighting at GOTF 2026 with US$500,000 prize pool. Named Best Fighting Game of 2025.
• ADNOCflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 December 2025Power sponsor for Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025. Major energy company providing substantial funding and branding rights for the inaugural event at ADNEC venue.
• ASPIREcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 18 December 2025Official Local Delivery Authority for GOTF Abu Dhabi 2025, responsible for overall coordination and delivery of the event. Led by CEO Stéphane Timpano.
• EtharacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 18 December 2025Official Event Delivery Partner managing promotion, venue transformation, and commercial partnerships for GOTF Abu Dhabi 2025.
• Abu Dhabi Sports CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 December 2025Government body supporting GOTF Abu Dhabi 2025 with athlete development, community engagement, and competition readiness.
• SportworldflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 December 2025German-based streaming platform delivering international sports content to 200+ countries. Multi-year agreement covering GOTF 2025 and GOTF 2026 via Smart TV apps on Samsung and LG devices.
• HuyamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 December 2025Major Chinese streaming platform providing live and non-live coverage with influencer-led content and promotional integrations for China, South Korea, and Southeast Asia markets.
• SOOPmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 December 2025Leading South Korean esports broadcaster producing national coverage of all disciplines. Produces over 80 major esports events annually, strengthening GOTF presence in key Asian market.
• StarTimesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 December 2025African streaming platform reaching more than 25 million subscribers across 30+ countries for GOTF content distribution.
• TV BRICSsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 December 2025BRICS media network distributing highlights, features, and programming including Phygital Africa Diaries in English and Arabic.
• Ei NerdmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 December 2025Brazilian entertainment platform with over 4 billion views for Latin American distribution of GOTF content.
• BIGGmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 December 2025Major EMEA gaming and esports network streaming on BIGG TV, reaching 50 million homes across more than 100 countries.
• HURAstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Phygital remote driving platform partnership for developing new competition formats using real vehicles controlled remotely. Combined racing simulation with physical competition.
• World Phygital Community (WPC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Global grassroots organization managing phygital sport development across 82 member nations. Responsible for Phygital Origins and Phygital Rivals tournament series leading to GOTF qualification.
• Guatemalan Esports AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025National federation spearheading Phygital School Games in Guatemala, integrated into National School Games with government ministry support.
• FEDEESP (São Paulo State School Sports Federation)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Signed agreement with Phygital Brazil to introduce phygital into schools across São Paulo and later nationwide.
• WPC Global Advisory CouncilsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Four-member inaugural council including Jorge O'Ryan Schutz (former Chilean ambassador), Bernt Erik Bjontegard (former NASA/Qualcomm), Francline Fonderson (CATCE), David Feng Xintao (4x Olympian) guiding WPC development.
• Force of Disruption GmbHsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Launched Germany's Phygital Sports League at ISPO Munich with €500,000 prize pool for global PSL finals in June 2026.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BLAST: Global esports tournament organizer producing major events across multiple game titles with premium production and global broadcast distribution. Comparable in event production scale and multi-discipline tournament format.
• PGL: Romanian-based esports event organizer producing majors for CS2, Dota 2, and other Valve titles. Comparable as a multi-title tournament operator pursuing global venue hosts and broadcast partnerships.
• Esports World Cup Foundation: Organizes the annual Esports World Cup in Riyadh, a multi-title summer event combining multiple esports titles with significant prize pools. Direct competitor for global multi-game event sponsorship, host city, and broadcaster attention.
• International Esports Federation (IESF): Global governing body for esports, organizing the annual World Esports Championship across multiple titles and member nations. Comparable as a multi-title international federation pursuing legitimacy and member-nation growth.

Broad incumbents

• ESL FACEIT Group: Largest esports tournament and competition platform operator (CS2, Dota 2, etc.), recently acquired by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Gaming Group. Competes for the same publisher relationships and tournament slots that Phygital International leverages.
• Olympic Esports Games (IOC): International Olympic Committee initiative to create official Olympic-branded esports competitions. Represents the most significant institutional incumbent threat to Phygital International's category ownership of multi-sport/esports hybrid events.
• Riot Games Esports: Publisher-led global esports league operator (League of Legends, Valorant) running its own multi-region championship circuits. Represents publisher disintermediation risk if Riot or peers build proprietary phygital circuits.

Regional players

• Saudi Esports Federation: National federation governing esports in Saudi Arabia, host of the Esports World Cup. Competes indirectly for Middle East host city mandates and broadcaster partnerships in the Gulf region.

Others

• GameSquare Holdings: Esports and gaming media holding company with assets in tournament operations, content, and team ownership. Thematically adjacent as a publicly traded esports-focused entity pursuing diversified event and media revenue.

Emerging players

• World Cyber Games (WCG): Revived 'Olympics of esports' format organizing multi-title international competition. Pursues a comparable positioning of esports as legitimate international sport with global member participation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phygitalinternational

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Phygital International