Electronic-Sports is something that not many people consider as being a massive sector, but in recent years with the explosive growth in Collegiate-level competitions and more career opportunities in Northern Ireland and the UK than we have ever seen, Esports is starting to be taken more seriously as an industry full of potential.

Esports industry showing significant growth

While the Esports industry has been growing globally, Northern Ireland has also witnessed a significant increase in Esports activity, after all, the computer game sector is a multi-billion pound industry and is expected to reach a value in the UK of £187 billion by 2025. The Esports community in Northern Ireland has been expanding steadily, with an increasing number of players, teams, and tournaments emerging across various titles and genres. This growth is driven by the enthusiasm of local gamers and companies who want to expand the sector as much as they can, but the Collegiate engagement in Northern Ireland is one of the key factors in this growth.

Collegiate organisations

Northern Ireland contains multiple Collegiate organisations. Ulster University has UU Esports, which sees all 3 Ulster campuses combined so Ulster students can compete; Belfast Met recently secured funding to open Northern Ireland’s first Esports Degree; and right here at Queen’s University, we have Queen's Esports, which has seen explosive growth since beginning operations during the pandemic – but who are we?

Queen's Esports was originally part of Dragonslayers, the gaming and anime society of Queen’s. After the founding members, who began with playing the game League of Legends and Counter-Strike, saw that there was a heavy interest for the more competitive player, they branched away from the casual gaming societies to form Queen's Esports, and as of 2023, 3 years after being founded, we see over 180 student members a year and over 900 active users.

Queen's Esports is a dominant force in the UK and Ireland Collegiate scene due to our size and influence. We hold events annually with other Collegiate societies to help promote the goal of expanding the Esports scene, and since many individuals who want a future career in this sector often find themselves starting at a Collegiate institution, it is vitally important that we offer support to these individuals who are the future of this industry.

Our most recent event that concluded on the 27^th June, the QUBLAN, proved that this industry is something to keep a keen eye on, as it was the most successful event that Queen's Esports has ever done, which united the Irish and UK Esports communities. The society runs all year round too, with its most active seasons being during the Winter and Spring season; and all Queen’s students are eligible to join, no matter the level of skill and ability. Queen's Esports information can be found on all our socials as well as on the QUBSU Clubs and Societies page.

Potential for further growth

The Esports industry in Northern Ireland is just getting started. Now that we have seen the interest from a student-level perspective, we are beginning to understand the importance that Esports can bring to the local scene. It has the potential to generate economic opportunities, including job creation and tourism. As the sector continues to grow, it may attract investments from sponsors, advertisers, educational institutes, and businesses, further contributing to the local economy.

Queen's Esports has been a driving force in the growth of Collegiate Esports in Ireland, and we are always looking for opportunities to continue this growth to make your experience at Queen’s the best possible, and maybe an opportunity for you to fall in a love with a new career pathway.

Find out more

Esports Society at Queen's

Clubs and Societies at Queen's

Study Film Studies and Production at Queen's

Mark McCourt Film Studies and Production| Undergraduate Student | Northern Ireland I am a 21 year old Film Studies and Production student at Queen’s and I have just finished my final year, I also am the president of Queen’s Esports Society! In my spare time you will either see me at a PC practicing for upcoming Esports competitions or in a gym where I do Powerlifting and have been lifting competitively for just over a year. I have found my journey in Queen’s to be a rewarding one, filled with new opportunities and I met so many amazing people along the way, and I hope you find so many opportunities here to find your spark!