The $1 million Games of the Future tournament set to take place in Russia has been mired in controversy ever since the initial lineup was announced. Top Dota 2 organizations from around the world were invited to compete, including Chinese powerhouse LGD Gaming, SEA standouts Entity and BOOM Esports, North American team Nouns, and Middle East juggernaut Nigma Galaxy.
However, the event quickly faced criticism and call-outs from the community related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Summary
- Nigma Galaxy withdraws from $1 million Games of the Future tournament in Russia after backlash
- Backlash stems from Ukraine war criticism against teams supporting Russian government
- Games of the Future invited top teams like LGD, Entity, beastcoast, and Nigma Galaxy
- Caster Bafik called for teams attending to be banned by Valve
- Nigma Galaxy is second team to withdraw after North American team Nouns dropped out
What was positioned to be a celebration of Dota featuring some of the best talent competing on the big stage for substantial prize money has evolved into a complex geopolitical situation. The Games of the Future organization likely did not expect such public condemnation of their Kazan event from high-profile members of the scene.
The initial backlash centered around Ukrainian players and personalities calling on invited teams to withdraw participation and not support the Russian government. Influential caster Oleksii “Bafik” Bafadarov’s social media post lobbied for a Valve ban of any organization choosing to attend Games of the Future. This spoke to the raw emotions still very much present within the region given the turmoil inflicted by the military conflict.
For emerging teams like North America’s Nouns, the decision to decline their invitation prevented brand blowback while allowing an opening for proper due diligence. As part of the new generation of Dota organizations, maintaining positive public perception is crucial in these formative years. Despite missing out on competing for the million dollar prize pool, Nouns likely made the correct long term choice.
The decision was much more difficult and layered for storied Middle East franchise Nigma Galaxy featuring legendary former TI champion Kuro “KuroKy” Salehi Takhasomi. As one of the biggest brands in their home region, expectations were high with fans eager to see them perform at a premium LAN event. Nigma likely accepted the invitation to Games of the Future without considering the optics related to Russia and Ukraine initially.
LESFAKENGOOOO!
As Nigma Galaxy withdraws from Games of the Future 2024 in Russia, Geek Fam Dota 2 steps in as their replacement! 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/88mJOcIGeX
— Rivalry SEA (@rivalrySEA) February 13, 2024
However, the vocal criticism made competing uncomfortable and nearly impossible. After close to two weeks of silence following the initial controversies, Nigma Galaxy formally withdrew from Games of the Future. Losing one of the tournament headliners damages the integrity of the event. Fans will continue questioning the decisions of teams choosing financial incentives over humanitarian concerns as Games of the Future approaches.
The Games of the Future organization quickly announced Southeast Asian squad GeekFam led by Filipino standout Andrei “skem” Ong as a last-minute replacement for Nigma Galaxy. While GeekFam benefits from gaining entry into a highly acclaimed international event, skepticism regarding Russia and their Dota tournament persists.
With Nouns and Nigma Galaxy withdrawing from Games of the Future already, pressure has increased on remaining participants to respond. As qualifying matches approach in late February, more departures could transpire. Regardless of competitive results, the $1 million tournament in Kazan will forever be clouded by the Ukrainian invasion and handling of participating organizations. Rather than uniting fans through elite Dota 2 competition, Games of the Future has fractured relationships and feels misguided given the global social climate.
