BFBS Brings Esports to UK Armed Forces with Rocket League Pro League

The BFBS Esports Pro League finished this weekend at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon, bringing together serving personnel, veterans, reservists, MOD civil servants, cadets, families and the bereaved community for competitive gaming centered on titles like Rocket League, League of Legends and F1.

BFBS, which began as a radio station during the Second World War, now supports the armed forces community across multiple platforms. Gaming has become a growing part of that mission. Ben Chapman, BFBS CEO, explained the organisation's approach: "We're all about supporting the armed forces community whether they are listening to radio on ops, watching the latest film releases on Royal Navy ships thanks to our clever tech, or helping them game."

Adam Waters, BFBS Director of AI Culture and gaming, emphasised the forward-looking nature of the initiative. "We want to be the home of gaming for the UK armed forces community," Waters said. "If more serving people are gaming, then that's where we've got to be." Waters also oversees BFBS's charitable Academy, which works to place veterans into the creative industries.

The organisation's ambition extends across the services. "Our ambition is to provide consoles, games and subscriptions, and exciting esports competitions as broadly as we can. Whether it's a Royal Navy submarine or a UK base, we'll bring gaming along with everything else we provide," Chapman said.

Gaming culture within the UK Armed Forces mirrors the civilian world in many respects. Most young service members game in some form, and it is common to find personnel gaming together after work or connecting via voice chat with friends. A key distinction is that esports is recognised by the UK Armed Forces as an official, endorsed sport, with official associations established in each service.

Robert Wylie, Head of BFBS Esports, described the diverse motivations of participants. "We find they're looking for a bit of everything. We are very fortunate to have two core groups of players. The first is that hyper-competitive player who wants to play at the top level. The second group is that standard gamer type who enjoys competition but is here to connect with their peers and enjoy their evening playing some Rocket League, F1 or League of Legends."

Military life presents unique challenges for participation. Deployment, relocation and extended periods away from family are routine. Gaming provides a connection that traditional community initiatives cannot easily replicate. Chapman noted an unexpected benefit: "One thing we have noticed is serving personnel gaming with their kids back home while on voice chat. It used to be a phone call. But we keep hearing they get to speak to their kids for longer and more meaningfully if they are voice chatting while doing something they both enjoy."

The decision to include all segments of the armed forces community in a single space was deliberate. "They are all part of the armed forces community that we serve as a charity," Chapman said. The inclusive approach strengthens the experience for participants. Wylie explained: "The fact that all corners of the military community are represented adds a healthy layer of competition while also giving more players an opportunity to take part and compete. For key groups like veterans or the bereaved, it gives them a platform to connect and get additional support from the community."

Gaming creates a unique social dynamic within the hierarchical military structure. The saying "No rank in the server" captures this ethos. Wylie noted: "The BFBS Pro League has attracted players of all ages, ranks, services and backgrounds. For a lot of players, they may never have crossed paths with each other if it wasn't for Rocket League or League of Legends. Through our events, they're able to meet new people and get to know each other through their love of games or esports."

Organisational flexibility is essential to accommodate military schedules. Wylie outlined the approach: "From the very beginning of this project, it was crucial that we build our tournament rules and event formats with flexibility in mind. For a lot of our players, their schedule isn't set in stone and the reality is deployment, training or a new tasking could happen at any moment." Most events take place during evenings, weekends are avoided to allow travel home, and teams receive support for roster changes. If necessary, entire series are rescheduled to ensure players can participate with full focus.

Chapman framed gaming as complementary to existing community offerings rather than a replacement. "It's in addition to rather than instead of. Just like sports, live events, watching a film, or listening to music, gaming is a great way to socialise and have fun."