The highly anticipated Games of the Future 2024 tournament, set to take place in Kazan, Russia next month, is generating significant buzz and scrutiny within the gaming community, particularly in the Dota 2 community.
In case you have missed it, the Games of the Future 2024 is a state-backed esports extravaganza in Russia, featuring a fresh blend of physical and gaming activities. Running from February 19 to March 3, the event promises a series of exhilarating tournaments across popular titles like Dota 2, CS2, Warface, and MLBB.
With a prize pool matching that of the ESL Dota 2 major tournament, it is evident that numerous teams are eagerly anticipating their shot at success. However, while the news has been well-received by some players and coaches, certain influential figures within the Dota 2 community have expressed criticism, directed both at the tournament itself and the participating teams.
The global community’s attention on Russia’s human rights violations in Ukraine, leading to an ongoing conflict, has prompted widespread disassociation from activities linked to the Russian government, including esports events.
Esports journalist Arseny Kuzminsky, an outspoken advocate on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, recently leveraged his social media platforms to draw attention to this matter. He delivered a sardonic response to the invited teams such as Boom Esports, LGD Gaming, Azure Ray, and Nouns for accepting invitations to the GoF 2024 tournament.
This sentiment found resonance among users who shared their disappointment with the teams for their decision to participate in Russia next month. Some express a desire for sanctions, proposing bans on these teams from future participation in the professional Dota 2 circuit.
As of now, the implicated teams have not officially addressed the growing international disapproval. However, considering past scenarios, there is a potential for withdrawals if public pressure intensifies in the coming weeks.
