Royal Navy's Latest Warship Equipped with Eight High-End Gaming PCs in its Command Center
The UK's Royal Navy has made a bold move in integrating modern digital recreation into naval service life with the introduction of an esports program onboard the HMS Prince of Wales. This pioneering initiative, a first of its kind on a UK active warship, is part of a partnership with the British Esports Federation and aims to boost morale, social interaction, and digital skills development for the ship's crew during deployments.
The esports suite, located on the vessel, is equipped with 12 high-end Alienware Aurora R15 gaming desktop PCs, each powered by Intel Core i7 processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 GPUs, ensuring top-tier gaming performance. The suite also boasts a console gaming station with Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch consoles. The environment is brightly lit with extensive LED lighting and arranged with a red versus blue color scheme to support team-based gaming.
Among the games played, Sid Meier's Civilization VI is a popular choice for solo gaming sessions. The setup supports local multiplayer games to facilitate team-based competitions, although specific multiplayer titles are not detailed. The environment encourages competitive and social gaming on board.
The esports suite serves multiple purposes. It provides a recreational outlet for sailors, helping them decompress during downtime. It fosters social connections across different departments on the ship, enhancing morale. It offers opportunities for the crew to develop and enhance digital skills relevant both inside and outside the military context. The initiative is officially supported by the Royal Navy and aligns with recognizing esports as a "military sport" since March 2024.
Future plans include expanding the suite to accommodate additional Alienware towers and possibly adding a simulation racing rig. The esports suite complements other onboard sports facilities like gyms, a boxing ring, table tennis, and running areas. It is part of the ship's deployment strategy during the eight-month global UK Carrier Strike Group mission to the Indo-Pacific region, aiming to improve the lived experience of the sailors.
This recruitment strategy is a departure from traditional military recruitment methods. The UK's Royal Navy has been actively recruiting young people through video games, specifically targeting skilled FPS players for enlistment. The HMS Prince of Wales, not just a warship, but also a gaming hub for its crew, offers a unique blend of military service and gaming culture.
References: [1] BBC News. (2022, March 31). Esports suite on HMS Prince of Wales. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60844571 [2] The Guardian. (2022, March 31). The UK's Royal Navy unveils esports suite on HMS Prince of Wales. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/games/2022/mar/31/the-uks-royal-navy-unveils-esports-suite-on-hms-prince-of-wales [3] IGN. (2022, March 31). Royal Navy's HMS Prince of Wales Gets State-of-the-Art Esports Suite. Retrieved from https://www.ign.com/articles/royal-navys-hms-prince-of-wales-gets-state-of-the-art-esports-suite
- The esports suite on HMS Prince of Wales, equipped with high-end gaming PCs and consoles, provides a modern recreational outlet for sailors, promoting digital skills development, social connections, and competitive gaming, all key components of the sailors' lifestyle.
- In addition to traditional sports facilities, HMS Prince of Wales has embraced a forward-thinking approach by integrating gadgets like the latest gaming technology into its onboard offerings, aiming to improve the sailors' entertainment and leisure options during deployments.
