Rocket League takes centre stage in UK’s first military esports tournament
The esports wave has hit globally, and now the UK military has stepped into the arena. The British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) has flipped the script by launching the first-ever esports league dedicated exclusively to the UK Armed Forces community. With Rocket League as the headline game, this initiative brings digital competition to the heart of the defence sector.
What is the BFBS Pro League?
The BFBS Pro League is a strategic, inclusive, and innovative series designed to celebrate and connect members of the UK’s military community through esports. This league is centred around Rocket League, a high-octane game that combines football with rocket-powered vehicles.
The BFBS Pro League is remarkably inclusive, welcoming not only active-duty soldiers but also serving personnel from all branches, direct family members, veterans, reservists, Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel, MOD civil servants, cadets, and members of the bereaved community. Anyone aged 13 or older is eligible to participate.
BFBS is offering an exciting array of prizes and incentives for the competition. Participants can look forward to a £15,000 prize pool, high-end gaming PCs, exclusive game credits, and special awards for the top 100 performers.
The BFBS Pro League is live! 🎉
— bfbsesports (@bfbsesportsuk)
The first-ever esports league built for everyone in the UK Armed Forces community.
🎮 Players aged 13+, casuals & seasoned pros
🪖 Serving, veterans, civilians, or cadets
🏆 £15,000 in prizes up for grabs
Sign up 👉
Tournament format and timeline
The BFBS Pro League presents a season-long experience instead of a one-time showdown. June and July will host online qualifiers in preparation for a live finale held in September, where the ultimate challengers will engage. The format of the league includes several match rounds, bracket phases, and cumulative eliminations, allowing newcomers and veterans alike to shine through. Registration is easily accessible on by any individual player or team.
Also Read: EWC 2025: 2,000+ players to battle for historic $70 million prize pool
BFBS’s vision and support from defence leaders
BFBS’s CEO, Ben Chapman, perfectly captured the essence of the Pro League by emphasising that it’s not just about gaming. It’s about fostering connection and camaraderie and creating new, meaningful ways to support the military community.
Chapman stated, “Gaming and esports bring people together and connect them with shared passions, and these elements underpin so much of our work at BFBS. Esports also encourage healthy competition and are so popular to watch – we can’t wait to build our leaderboard and a whole new community of gamers.”
Senior defence officials are fully backing this initiative, highlighting that it’s more than just a grassroots effort. Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes, Deputy Commander at Strategic Command, emphasised its importance.
Copinger-Symes noted, “We are delighted that BFBS is stepping up to the plate and bringing the UK’s defence community together through esports. Gaming is a vital means of engaging and entertaining the UK’s Armed Forces and has great potential in developing and nurturing skills that are applicable to the working lives of so many in the defence sector.”
UK esports market landscape
The UK esports market is experiencing significant growth, with revenue projected to reach $304.4 million by 2029 and the number of users expected to reach 23.8 million.
According to Statista, the UK esports market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.97 percent between 2025 and 2029. The number of esports users in the UK is expected to increase by 24 percent between 2024 and 2029, reaching 23.77 million by 2029.
