JoyCity announced on the 12th that its basketball game, '3on3 FreeStyle', has been selected as an official event for the Games of the Future 2026 (GOTF 2026), which will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan. The tournament features 'Phygital' competition, a hybrid format that combines digital gaming with actual physical activity.

The phygital basketball competition for GOTF 2026 will take place from July 29 to August 3 at the Kazakhstan Athletics Sports Centre, a 7,000-seat indoor arena in Astana. The phygital basketball category features a total prize pool of $400,000. It adopts a unique hybrid competition method where the outcome of the '3on3 FreeStyle' digital match transitions to a real-life basketball court to determine the final winner.

The GOTF organizing committee stated that '3on3 FreeStyle' captures the speed and culture of street basketball well, making it the most suitable title for the phygital competition format. The game was also an official event at the previous GOTF 2025 in Abu Dhabi, receiving high praise from fans worldwide. That tournament recorded approximately 849 million cumulative views, proving its potential for success.

JoyCity has signed an official licensing agreement with the GOTF organizing committee and will provide technical support for the stable operation of the tournament. The company will also provide support in various areas, including the construction of local servers and cooperation for live broadcasting. Through this tournament, JoyCity aims to expand its influence in overseas markets and further enhance the brand awareness of '3on3 FreeStyle'. Additionally, the company plans to broaden the esports base for its IP while strengthening its global publishing competitiveness.