The Royal Navy has unveiled a groundbreaking “esports suite” aboard its flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales—marking the first time an operational warship features a dedicated PC gaming space
🖥️ What’s Inside
- 8–12 high-end Alienware Aurora gaming PCs powered by NVIDIA RTX 4080 GPUs and Intel Core i7 CPUs
- LAN-focused setup: team-based “red vs blue” layout with LED ambient lighting and a big-screen TV
- Also includes console setups—PlayStation, Xbox, potential additions like F1 simulators
🎯 Purpose & Benefits
- Morale & mental wellbeing: Offers crew a structured social hub for relaxation and camaraderie on long deployments
Skill development: Esports recognized by the UK MoD as a “military sport” since March 2024, valued for building digital skills, leadership, and teamwork
Recruitment tool: Part of broader efforts to attract young talent, especially gamers who may become future cyber‑defence specialists
Offshore Challenges & Future Plans
- Limited internet at sea, so gameplay is currently restricted to LAN-only titles like Halo, Team Fortress 2, and Counter‑Strike
- Naval crew are exploring enhanced connectivity to enable online play across the fleet
- Plans in motion to roll out similar suites on other ships and bases
Why It Matters
- Boosting crew morale: A modern approach to welfare that supports mental health during long missions
- Innovative training: Esports doubles as a platform for building critical skills—team communication, reaction time, and strategic thinking
- Recruitment appeal: Positions the Royal Navy as forward-looking, attracting digitally native talent for cyber roles
