The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is transforming military training by officially sanctioning esports competitions among service personnel. Partnering with the British Esports Federation, the MoD will host the inaugural International Defence Esports Games in late 2026. This move formalizes gaming as a strategic tool to prepare troops for modern warfare, where cyber operations and drone technology dominate the battlefield.

Drone operator training
Military drone operations demand precision skills increasingly found in gamers. (Credit: Shutterstock)

Lt. Gen. Sir Tom Copinger-Symes, Deputy Commander of UK Strategic Command, stated: "> Esports and serious games can contribute to our warfighting readiness... As competition and conflict increasingly play out in cyberspace, these games equip our people to think, operate, and innovate across both physical and virtual worlds."

The strategy draws direct inspiration from Ukraine’s battlefield innovations. Ukrainian forces have leveraged gaming talent to rapidly train drone operators, with some recruits transitioning from controllers to combat drones after just three weeks. One Ukrainian instructor starkly observed: "Drones are the new Kalashnikovs. And gamers' fingers are inevitably better than fingers used to tightening bolts."

Russia is pursuing similar tactics, using the game Berloga to identify and recruit teen drone component designers through school programs. This highlights a global trend: militaries are aggressively scouting gaming talent for asymmetric warfare advantages.

For the UK, this initiative addresses a critical skills shortage. The MoD recently condensed cybersecurity training programs and is now tapping into soldiers' existing gaming proficiencies to build:
- Enhanced hand-eye coordination for drone piloting
- Rapid decision-making under pressure
- Cyber threat recognition capabilities
- Cross-border collaboration with allies

The MoD’s esports push coincides with physical investments like the Royal Navy’s esports facility aboard the HMS Prince of Wales. As drone warfare intensifies—with Ukraine deploying approximately 10,000 daily—the digital dexterity cultivated in competitive gaming isn't just entertainment; it's becoming foundational to national defense.