Phygital International has officially confirmed 3on3 Freestyle as the official game title for Phygital Basketball at the Games of the Future 2026, the latest in a growing roster of world-class publisher partnerships.
The Phygital Basketball competition will take place at the Athletics Sports Complex “Qazaqstan” in Astana from 29 July to 3 August. Teams will compete for a US$400,000 prize pool in the 7,000-seat arena in the Kazakhstani capital.
With its fast-paced gameplay, stylized characters and strong competitive depth, 3on3 Freestyle has built a global community around the culture of street basketball, making it a natural fit for the phygital competition format.
The Games of the Future 2025 in Abu Dhabi saw Phygital Basketball draw strong engagement from teams and fans alike, with the event generating nearly 849 million views across all platforms.
Several teams have already secured qualification, including new names such as Team Apex from South Africa, Montenegro-based Dangerous, and Pepesqueros A from Guatemala. They join established contenders – including GOTF 2025 third-place finishers PBC Astana and reigning champions LIGA PRO TEAM.
The remaining spots will be decided at Phygital Contenders 2026 Astana, taking place from 10-13 June at the Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace, where clubs from Argentina, Pakistan, Spain, Turkey and other countries will compete.
William Al-Badeesh, Publisher Relations & IP Licensing Lead at Phygital International, said: “By featuring leading titles such as 3on3 Freestyle, the Games of the Future continues to establish itself as the global platform for phygital sport, uniting athletics, gaming, and entertainment. Phygital competition is redefining what it means to be an athlete, and partnering with publishers who share that vision and bring titles with genuine global followings is how we are building the future of sport.”
With the competition taking shape both on and off the court, this announcement reinforces the Games of the Future’s ambition to partner with the world’s leading game publishers to build a new category of international competition. 3on3 Freestyle joins Fatal Fury: City of Wolves and Dota 2 among the titles already confirmed for the Games of the Future 2026, with more announcements to follow.
Phygital Basketball is one of eight disciplines at the Games of the Future 2026, bringing together more than 900 participants from over 50 countries and expected to attract more than 100,000 fans.
More updates on publishers, team qualification, and broadcast plans will be shared on official Phygital International and GOTF channels.
Audiences can follow the latest updates on the official Games of the Future 2026 website and revisit highlights from previous editions on Phygital+, Phygital International’s dedicated streaming platform.
For media interested in attending, accreditation to GOTF 2026 is now open here.
