Source: JoyCity

JoyCity (CEO Cho Sung-won) announced on the 12th that its popular basketball game, '3on3 FreeStyle,' has been selected as an official event for 'Games of the Future 2026 (GOTF 2026),' a global esports tournament to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

'GOTF' is an international tournament that introduces the 'Phygital' concept, which combines digital gaming (e-sports) with physical activity. The event will take place from July 29 to August 3 at the Qazaqstan Athletics Sports Center in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The phygital basketball category will feature a total prize pool of $400k (approximately ₩500 million). The competition follows a unique hybrid format where participants first compete in a digital match via '3on3 FreeStyle,' followed by a real-life basketball game on the court to determine the final winner.

The GOTF organizing committee selected '3on3 FreeStyle' as the most suitable title for the phygital format, noting that it perfectly captures the speed and culture of street basketball. The game previously proved its global potential as an official event at 'GOTF 2025' in Abu Dhabi, where it recorded approximately 849 million cumulative views.

JoyCity has signed an official licensing agreement with the organizing committee and plans to provide comprehensive support, including technical assistance, local server setup, and cooperation for real-time broadcasting to ensure smooth tournament operations.

A JoyCity representative stated that the company plans to use this tournament to expand its influence in overseas markets and boost brand awareness, focusing on broadening the esports base for its IP and strengthening its global publishing competitiveness.