Get ready for the International Defence Esports Games!

17 December 2025

We often write about the role of UK esports in education, with more and more schools and universities adopting esports as a part of their curriculums, but the British military is starting to realise their potential as well. Back in May of this year, for example, the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) announced the launch of their very own esports league for members of the UK armed forces community, called the BFBS Pro League. And now, a few months later, that same BFBS has made a new announcement regarding the creation of the International Defence Esports Games (IDEG). A total of 40 countries will be traveling to Sunderland in October 2026 to sharpen their digital combat skills within the context of modern warfare.

2026 International Defence Esports Games

Technology has developed at an incredibly impressive rate over the past years and we are not just talking about gaming and esports in the UK. The advances are felt everywhere, including in the military. That is why the British Forces Broadcasting Service, provider of radio and television programmes for the British Armed Forces, has announced the International Defence Esports Games. The event was created to serve as a collaborative arena for allied nations to sharpen the cyber skills that are critical for modern warfare. As we wrote earlier, 40 countries will be participating in IDEG 2026, including the likes of Canada, Poland and, of course, Great Britain.

“IDEG builds a bridge between defence readiness and the fast-paced world of competitive gaming”, writes IDEG on their own website, “[…] Hosted by British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) and chaired by Lieutenant General Sir Tom Copinger-Symes, the programme includes high-level conversations on: Gaming and its applications within the Armed Forces, Esports as a catalyst for recruitment, training and skills development, and IDEG 2026: getting started and strategic opportunities.”

Ukrainian involvement

Ukraine will be amongst the participating nations as well next year and not just as a spectator. Since the Russian invasion in 2022, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been in all-out war and a big part of their war is being fought with drones. As part of the 2026 International Defence Esports Games, they will share the drone simulator games they developed and which improved operators’ targeting accuracy and reaction times, enabling more effective missions against opposition forces.

“Lessons from Ukraine have shown how gaming technology can train drone operators and develop the rapid decision-making skills essential for modern warfare”, says Louise Sandher-Jones, British Minister for Veterans and People, “The International Defence Esports Games (IDEG) positions Britain at the forefront of this transformation, ensuring our armed forces are prepared for the conflicts of tomorrow.”

IDEG26 Launch Event

The International Defence Esports Games 2026 will be held at the Sunderland Gaming and Esports Arena in October 2026, but the BFBS already officially introduced the event at the IDEG26 Launch Event. This one-day event featured a series of expert-led panel discussions introducing IDEG26 and showcasing best practices and success stories from participating nations, including discussions about the future of esports in the military, the introduction of high-profile partners, and a Rocket League showcase between the RAF and the Royal Navy.