Video games of the Future 2025 was shaping as much as be one of the entertaining low season occasions for Dota 2 followers, providing a nostalgic hit as followers may watch legendary figures return for one final journey. However issues have taken a flip because the occasion attracts nearer.
Although this event regarded like a innocent celebration of Dota’s previous, there’s now rising scrutiny. Ex-pros and the group have raised considerations in regards to the showmatch’s Russian backing, prompting individuals to rethink whether or not they need to attend.
Nostalgic Showmatch Comes With Problems
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 event 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 workforce.
However, the occasion is an element of a bigger venture that’s closely backed by the Russian Authorities. Final 12 months’s Video games of the Future even featured a visitor look by Vladimir Putin in the course of the opening ceremony. Given the tensions from the Russia-Ukraine warfare, this naturally raised eyebrows throughout the esports world.
Russian Backing and Political Issues
Video games of the Future may seem like your common esports low season event, however the venture’s origins make it a little bit trickier. The occasion was initially created and funded by the Russian authorities.
The primary event in 2024 was organized by Russia’s Ministry of Sport and utilized a considerable authorities funds to launch a brand new “phygital sports activities” idea, which mixes esports with real-world athletic video games.
This Russian connection turned 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 venture 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 individuals 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 value taking that bloody cash and changing 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 on account of his assist for Ukraine.
Ceb Crew 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 workforce had determined to withdraw from the occasion.
“After contemplating new info that was not identified on the time of acceptance, we now have determined to withdraw from the occasion.
When an occasion turns into too politicized, for any purpose, we choose not to participate,” he stated. “We imagine we must always have the proper to remain exterior of those political issues and hold our deal with our ardour and esports.”
His workforce on the occasion consists of a number of the largest personalities and streamers within the scene – we’re speaking about Topson and Gorgc, two of the preferred English streamers at present. The withdrawal offers a serious blow to the event’s attraction, and will additionally set off different individuals to tug out, too.
The group itself is break up – many followers merely wish to watch their childhood heroes play Dota once more, asking for politics to be ignored. In the meantime, others advise iconic figures to not lend their presence to what they view as Russian propaganda.
