Video games of the Future 2025 was shaping as much as be probably the most entertaining low season occasions for Dota 2 followers, providing a nostalgic hit as followers might watch legendary figures return for one final experience. However issues have taken a flip because the occasion attracts nearer.
Although this match seemed like a innocent celebration of Dota’s previous, there may be now rising scrutiny. Ex-pros and the group have raised issues concerning the showmatch’s Russian backing, prompting contributors to rethink whether or not they need to attend.
Nostalgic Showmatch Comes With Issues
On paper, Video games of the Future 2025 is each Dota fan’s dream. This $175,000 occasion options eight groups comprising TI champions, old-school stars, and common streamers, competing in a six-day LAN match in Abu Dhabi.
Right here, rosters just like the The Worldwide 3 Alliance lineup, Chinese language legends from a decade in the past, and even an OG reunion that includes Sébastien “Ceb” Debs, Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen, Johan “N0tail” Sundstein, and streamer Janne “Gorgc” Stefanovski on the identical group.
However, the occasion is a component of a bigger challenge that’s closely backed by the Russian Authorities. Final yr’s Video games of the Future even featured a visitor look by Vladimir Putin throughout the opening ceremony. Given the tensions from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, this naturally raised eyebrows throughout the esports world.
Russian Backing and Political Issues
Video games of the Future could seem like your common esports low season match, however the challenge’s origins make it a little bit trickier. The occasion was initially created and funded by the Russian authorities.
The primary match in 2024 was organized by Russia’s Ministry of Sport and utilized a considerable authorities finances to launch a brand new “phygital sports activities” idea, which mixes esports with real-world athletic video games.
This Russian connection grew to become unmistakable when Vladimir Putin appeared on the 2024 opening ceremony alongside leaders of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus, all of whom are Russian allies. This isn’t one thing that usually occurs at gaming occasions.
Though the 2025 version is being relocated to Abu Dhabi with new organizers, many group members nonetheless affiliate the challenge with its Russian origins.
Former Ukrainian Professional Ghostik Speaks Out
The primary main wave of criticism got here from former Ukrainian professional Andrii “Ghostik” Kadyk. He made a publish on Reddit calling out contributors for accepting invitations to the occasion, given its Russian ties.
Ghostik ignited a heated debate, calling out gamers like Topson, Ceb, and N0tail and questioning whether or not it’s “actually price taking that bloody cash and turning into a part of Russian propaganda by attending this occasion?”
A number of commenters on the thread additionally famous Wehsing “SingSing” Yuen, a preferred Dota 2 streamer, was additionally invited to the occasion. Nonetheless, he refused because of his help for Ukraine.
Ceb Group Pulls Out
The controversy gained much more traction after OG legend and two-time TI winner Ceb tweeted on X, saying he’s reconsidering attending. Not lengthy after, he confirmed that he and his group had determined to withdraw from the occasion.
“After contemplating new data that was not recognized on the time of acceptance, we’ve got determined to withdraw from the occasion.
When an occasion turns into too politicized, for any cause, we want not to participate,” he stated. “We imagine we must always have the suitable to remain outdoors of those political issues and maintain our deal with our ardour and esports.”
His group on the occasion consists of among the greatest personalities and streamers within the scene – we’re speaking about Topson and Gorgc, two of the most well-liked English streamers at the moment. The withdrawal offers a significant blow to the match’s attraction, and will additionally set off different contributors to drag out, too.
The group itself is cut up – many followers merely wish to watch their childhood heroes play Dota once more, asking for politics to be unnoticed. In the meantime, others advise iconic figures to not lend their presence to what they view as Russian propaganda.
