First look at new £1.65m Esports facility at University of Suffolk

First images have been unveiled for a state-of-the-art new esports facility at the University of Suffolk.

A £1.65 million renovation is currently underway on a vacant building in Long Street at the University’s Ipswich campus, which will feature a combination of teaching and recreational space including more than 40 gaming-spec PCs, professional-grade broadcast gallery and a live studio purpose-built for broadcasting and live-streaming.

Ahead of the first cohort for the new BA (Hons) Esports course joining in September, the University has published indicative CGI images of what the industry-grade facility will look like.

Work on the esports facility is being carried out by Concertus and is due to be completed in September. 

Charlie Smith, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Esports, said: “We’ve already had lots of interest in our brand new Esports course launching this September, and the £1.65 million facility will be a real draw for students to join our programme.

“With more than 40 gaming PCs, live-streaming facilities and a broadcast gallery, our learners will benefit from industry-standard technology to bolster their experience before they even graduate into the industry.”

The new Esports course aims to deliver a hands-on experience for students who are passionate about gaming, but will also equip them with vital business and tech skills to set them apart for when they graduate.

Those skills include managing live-streamed events, live and online broadcasting experience, digital marketing skills, creative digital media attributes, and leadership and team dynamic prowess.

Charlie added: “These skills are really important for thriving in such a fast-paced and evolving industry, and by equipping our students with as broad a range of strengths as possible, our course will give students the best experience possible of thriving in the industry.”

The facilities will allow students to compete in national and global tournaments, online showpiece matches, and charity events.

Students will also be able to manage their own esports team, due to be unveiled later this year.

To find out more about the BA (Hons) Esports course, visit the website here.

Alternatively, book onto the next open day to find out more about studying at the University of Suffolk and meet the course lecturers. You can book onto an open day here.