Phygital guide
What is phygital basketball?
Phygital basketball is a competitive format that combines a basketball video game and real basketball. A match consists of a digital and a physical stage, with the score from the first stage carried into the second. The final result therefore depends on performance in both parts.
The digital stage is played two against two on a basketball simulator. The teams then move to the court for physical two-on-two basketball. The score is not reset to zero: the points earned in the video game remain on the scoreboard and continue to build during the physical stage.
Two parts of one match
The digital stage tests a pair’s ability to play a basketball video game, work together and make attacking and defensive decisions. The physical stage tests real basketball performance: two-on-two play, movement, defence, rebounding and finishing.
These are not two separate scores or two separate competitions. The winner is decided only after both stages of the match have been completed.
The detailed match format — team composition, score carry-over, the digital-stage target, the duration of physical play and the way a tied result is decided — is explained in Phygital basketball rules.
Who can play
A team may have 3 or 4 athletes. Two players from each team compete at the same time in both the digital and physical stages.
Phygital basketball is generally played in an open category from the age of 16. The organiser of an individual competition may set additional registration, roster and eligibility requirements.
The format is open to female and male athletes. Categories and eligibility requirements for each tournament are published by its organiser.
Where phygital basketball is played
Phygital basketball is one of the core ranking disciplines of the World Phygital Community (WPC), alongside phygital football, dancing and shooter. The international system includes local and national events, followed by a pathway to Phygital Contenders and the Games of the Future, the world phygital championship.
The relationship between Origins, Rivals, Contenders and the Games of the Future — as well as the difference between rankings and qualification — is explained in The phygital competition system: Origins, Rivals, Contenders and Games of the Future.
KK Nitui and phygital basketball
KK Nitui develops phygital basketball as a combination of club basketball and digital competition. The Zagrebački mališani Nitui team won Phygital Contenders Astana 2026 and qualified for the Games of the Future.
Following the Astana Contenders, ZM NITUI was ranked second in the WPC global phygital basketball standings for qualification to the Games of the Future 2026.
Official sources and further reading
This guide simplifies the format to provide a clear starting point. For complete and current technical conditions of an individual competition, always consult the organiser’s official regulations.