Dubai to Host Games of the Future 2025
Dubai has been selected to host the Games of the Future 2025, following an announcement at a ceremony in Istanbul. Scheduled for autumn 2025, the event will gather thousands of athletes and esports professionals from nearly 100 countries. Qualifiers are currently underway through the World Phygital Community’s Phygital Games 2024/25 tournament. This decision aligns with Dubai’s ten-year Program for Gaming 2033, which aims to attract tech companies and global talent to strengthen the city’s role in phygital development, a blend of digital and physical realms.
F1 Driver Yuki Tsunoda Showcases Valorant-Themed Helmet at Belgian Grand Prix
Japanese F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda made a splash in the gaming world today by donning a Valorant-themed helmet during the F1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. Amidst the Red Bull and sponsor logos, the helmet showcased a drawing of Jett with her floating knives, a nod to the game’s ultimate ability. This move highlights Valorant’s growing popularity among high-profile figures, following Elon Musk and Ben Affleck’s attendance at last year’s VCT finals in Los Angeles. Tsunoda’s choice underscores the increasing crossover between traditional sports and esports.
Google Enhances Play Platform with Dual Game Feature and New Play Pass Additions
Google today unveiled significant updates to its Play platform, enhancing game-related features. A new feature for Google Play Games on PC allows users to run two games simultaneously—one for active play and another for resource grinding, particularly targeting idle games. New additions to Play Pass include “Asphalt Legends Unite,” available now, “Call of Duty: Mobile” and “Candy Crush Saga” on August 1, and “Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance” later this year. Additionally, Google introduced new rewards for Play Points members, including VIP experiences at San Diego Comic-Con.
Xiaomi Reclaims Top Spot in India’s Smartphone Market, Surpassing Samsung
China’s Xiaomi has reclaimed the top spot in India’s smartphone market after six quarters, surpassing Korea’s Samsung, which dropped to third behind Vivo in the June quarter. This marks a notable resurgence for Chinese brands in a fiercely competitive sector. Xiaomi’s shipments surged 24% annually, increasing its market share to 18% from 15% a year ago, according to Canalys. Vivo, in second place, maintained an 18% share with 4% annual growth, while Samsung’s shipments fell 8%, dropping its share to 17%. Realme and Oppo ranked fourth and fifth with 12% and 11% shares, respectively. Overall, total mobile shipments grew 1% year-on-year to 36.4 million units.
