Red Bull Gaming staged a large-scale competitive Tetris event by transforming the desert night sky into a playable game using RGB drones. The grand final took place at the Dubai Frame, a 492-foot structure that doubled as a vertical game board. Meanwhile, spectators experienced a synchronized spectacle featuring 4,000 drones, live music, and special performances.
How the drone-powered gameplay worked
During the competition, two finalists advanced from a short pre-final round to determine gameplay order and scoring strategy. Then, each finalist received a five-minute gameplay window to reach or surpass a target score. Notably, a fleet of 2,800 drones created Tetriminos in real time, with 1,400 drones assigned to each player. As a result, every block movement appeared instantly across the 150-meter-high structure, including rotations, drops, and line completions.
Global tournament scale and competitive format
Beyond the final match, the tournament drew players from 60 countries through more than seven million qualifier games. Subsequently, national finals took place in each participating country before a full-day world final knockout stage. Unlike classic Tetris, the event used short three-minute rounds with gravity changes, speed boosts, and power-ups. Ultimately, this format emphasized fast decision-making while showcasing how large-scale technology can redefine competitive gaming experiences.
