Landmark Esports Suite Launches on UK Aircraft Carrier as Royal Navy and British Esports Partner for Unique Facility

[TheLostSwede]

The floating esports suite will allow the ship's company of HMS Prince of Wales to compete against each other in an immersive gaming environment as part of a partnership between the Royal Navy and the British Esports Federation. While the classic Royal Navy game 'Uckers' is still going strong, the suite will allow further opportunities for ship's company to enhance digital skills and an additional space to decompress in their down time.

It's the result of a partnership between the Royal Navy and the British Esports Federation, the national body for esports in the United Kingdom. The facility includes 12 high-end Alienware Aurora R15 gaming desktop PCs, powered by NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and Intel Core i7 processors. It will join other sports facilities onboard, including gyms, a boxing ring, plus areas for table tennis and running.




"Having an esports suite available to the ship's company on Prince of Wales is a massive win for the morale on board, as those who use it can enjoy their hobbies or discover a new one, while at the same time engaging with others outside their usual departmental circles," said LET(CIS)Spec Victoria Marley, Esports Committee Member.

The addition of an esports facility is designed to enhance the lived experience of her sailors and foster social connections during her eight-month global UK Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.

The announcement marks the start of a closer partnership between British Esports, the national body for esports in the United Kingdom, and the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD), the headquarters of the British Armed Forces.

A launch event and international tournament in the esports facility has been planned and future leagues will be organised with Royal Navy Esports.

"We've been working with the armed forces since 2019, and as part of our wider partnership with Dell, Intel and Alienware, British Esports has now been able to provide high-spec kit and equipment to this landmark esports facility," said Chester King, President, British Esports.

"We're thrilled to partner with the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence for this. Gaming is becoming increasingly important to the military, as it offers many benefits such as fostering communication, leadership and strategic skills, and allows personnel to strengthen bonds, unwind and maintain positive mental health. We look forward to announcing more exciting partnerships soon."

Flt Lt Stephen Rennie, Chair of the Defence Esports Network, added: "Esports has rapidly grown into a multi-billion-pound industry, influencing global entertainment, technology, and military training.

"The UK Defence sector must embrace esports as a strategic tool to drive key skills, foster community, and attract the next generation of personnel by reflecting broader society, and this esports facility attests to that."

The news comes just over a year after the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) recognised esports as an official military sport, unlocking more funding and opportunities for personnel.

Earlier this year, the UK Government also launched an Armed Forces recruitment scheme in a bid to fast-track gamers into cyber defence roles.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[dgianstefani]

Insert joke about needing nuclear power to run modern gaming rigs then notice it's the only non nuclear supercarrier in world...

 

[Erratic4^2]

Insert joke about needing nuclear power to run modern gaming rigs then notice it's the only non nuclear supercarrier in world...

Joke wrote and un-wrote itself.

 

[Eternit]

Insert joke about needing nuclear power to run modern gaming rigs then notice it's the only non nuclear supercarrier in world...

There are two of the same class and there is Fujian. Although I wouldn't call supercarrier if it isn't CATOBAR and can launch only STOVL planes.

 

[HeadRusch1]

Your Naval Gunnery Training............presented by World of Warships, the Free to Play Naval Warfare Simulator!

 

[Dr. Dro]

Wow, this must be an experience. I'm sure it still rocks about to the rough seas like any other boat, despite being a supercarrier.

 

[dgianstefani]

There are two of the same class and there is Fujian. Although I wouldn't call supercarrier if it isn't CATOBAR and can launch only STOVL planes.

It's a supercarrier by weight alone. Yes, the UK Gov did its usual idiotic short-sighted budget cuts and design compromises making the thing almost pointless at the intended role (original design was nuclear, more capable (didn't rely on USA recon and EW planes), and France was going to buy the second one), but it's a supercarrier.

As for the Chinese one its capabilities are on paper like everything else, but I suppose you're right. Supercarrier by weight.

 

[vbq7qK68eyYAH4iR]

poor f-ers, forced to use those trash Alienware computers

 

[Cheeseball]

poor f-ers, forced to use those trash Alienware computers

Yeah, those are the older versions too. Not the reworked Area 51 that seems to be better.

 

[yfn_ratchet]

Starting to beat an equine carcass, but god, Alienware of all people? DELL? Which member of parliament got sweet-talked about those otherworldy trash cans? If you're going to buy a prebuilt, at least contract a local system integrator, someone who won't screw you over as hard with that 'military grade' pricing.

The singular Series S as well... a Series X is not that expensive, guys.

 

[Crackong]

So , not only there is TEA, now we need LAN party in British military?

 

[PLAfiller]

Starting to beat an equine carcass, but god, Alienware of all people? DELL? Which member of parliament got sweet-talked about those otherworldy trash cans? If you're going to buy a prebuilt, at least contract a local system integrator, someone who won't screw you over as hard with that 'military grade' pricing.

The singular Series S as well... a Series X is not that expensive, guys.

Not defending anyone, but did you check the video posted above? as well as Steve's on the new version? There really wasn't much actual criticism of the new iteration of Area 51 pre-builts, so why not?

 

[Bomby569]

who said the money in the military is wasted.

 

[yfn_ratchet]

Not defending anyone, but did you check the video posted above? as well as Steve's on the new version? There really wasn't much actual criticism of the new iteration of Area 51 pre-builts, so why not?

Context of the post you're referencing is that these aren't the new iteration of Area 51 models. These are the old Aurora models, which beyond being the typical Dell OEM fare are generally absolutely terrible for the price—and in my personal sense of taste, nauseatingly gaudy. They could have bought ASUS TUF-themed towers and it would have been an order of magnitude more tasteful, and that's saying something.

 

[PLAfiller]

Context of the post you're referencing is that these aren't the new iteration of Area 51 models. These are the old Aurora models, which beyond being the typical Dell OEM fare are generally absolutely terrible for the price—and in my personal sense of taste, nauseatingly gaudy. They could have bought ASUS TUF-themed towers and it would have been an order of magnitude more tasteful, and that's saying something.

My bad, yeah the old version was absolutely destroyed by Steve, I watched it butchered right there on his table.

 

[Shihab]

Your Naval Gunnery Training............presented by World of Warships, the Free to Play Naval Warfare Simulator!

Would be more fun if it was Warthunder.
Think of all those leaks!

 

[HeadRusch1]

Would be more fun if it was Warthunder.
Think of all those leaks!

It's just an odd story to promote..... .....I was going to lean in with "The British Army will soon dominate any battlefield shaped like a CS2 map" but had no idea if Royal Marines were stationed on the boat or not.....

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Imagine being deployed to an active warzone and having people on board still crying about their K/D ratio.....