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The PI LAB

What is the PI LAB?

The PI LAB is where phygital disciplines are conceived and developed.

We turn concepts for new disciplines into real, playable formats by testing them against strict criteria. Every idea is scored based on factors such as competitiveness, entertainment value, and how engaging it will be to an audience, both live and online.

Discipline categories

There are three main categories of disciplines – WPC Core Disciplines, GOTF Disciplines and Demo Disciplines.

WPC Core Disciplines

These are the four main disciplines that make up the central programme at each Games of the Future. They are Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Shooter and Phygital Dancing. These disciplines usually have both a digital and a physical stage with the winner having most combined points after both stages. These are professional-level challenges where elite players compete for cash prizes.

PI’s affiliated organization, the World Phygital Community (WPC), runs local/regional and national tournaments in these disciplines (called Phygital Origins and Phygital Rivals respectively).

These tournaments are rated according to the size of the country, number of competitors etc., and players win ranking points according to how well they do. The best performing participants in Phygital Origins proceed to Phygital Rivals and rankings are calculated at the end of each season.

The top teams and players globally then go on to compete in a qualifying tournament, Phygital Contenders, for the chance to take part in the grand finals – the Games of the Future. Phygital Contenders and GOTF are both overseen by PI.

Currently, only the four core disciplines are governed by the WPC but as phygital continues to expand and grow in popularity, new sports are expected to be added to the Core Discipline category – once they have been developed and approved by the PI LAB.

GOTF Disciplines

The Games of the Future (GOTF) is the pinnacle of phygital and features a variety of disciplines. The WPC Core Disciplines above are always included, but almost any sport can be phygitalized.

Across the world there is a growing movement of sports fans and gamers creating their own phygital versions of their favourite activities. Some have a physical and digital stage (such as Phygital Racing, Phygital Fighting or Phygital Hockey), some are purely virtual (e.g. MOBA), while others use the latest technology (e.g. Battle of Robots, Drone Racing). These enthusiasts often organise their own leagues and competitions.

PI LAB is constantly working with these fans and players to develop these disciplines into recognised phygital sports. Read more about phygitalization below.

Demo Disciplines

At each Games of the Future, there is public zone known as the Games of the Future City, where fun, interactive experiences are available for visitors to try out and explore what phygital sports are all about. We call these Demo Disciplines, where anyone can take part and enjoy the thrill of phygital.

A good example of this is Phygital Fencing which blends traditional fencing movements with cutting-edge digital scoring and visuals, and which can be played by anyone.

Phygitalizing sport

To become recognised as a phygital discipline, a concept must go through an official process overseen by PI LAB, whose members include both PI and WPC representatives.

  1. Organizations such as federations, leagues, game developers or even fans submit their ideas to PI LAB, which helps to refine the rules and regulations and then scores each idea against a set of criteria.
  2. Every year PI LAB presents these potential disciplines to WPC members at the World Phygital Summit. If 50% of WPC members agree to develop a discipline in their regions, the WPC will then develop a ranking system for those tournaments.
  3. At the end of the tournament season, the success of these new disciplines will be measured and the most popular, exciting and entertaining will then be considered for inclusion in the GOTF programme.

Host cities must include the WPC Core Disciplines in their Games of the Future tournament. PI then works with the city to decide which other disciplines should feature, according to popularity, entertainment value, and venue availability.

Do you have an idea for a new discipline?

We’re always looking for bold, creative phygital ideas.

If you have a concept you think would make for a great new discipline, simply download the presentation template here, fill in the required details, and upload it to us using the submission button. The more detail, the better.

We can’t wait to see what you come up with.

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