Esports Lab Opens in Hunt Library

NC State’s newest competitive sport now has a home — and for the time being, it’s on the fourth floor of Hunt Library. The NC State Gaming and Esports Lab, featuring 35 gaming PCs and four console stations, opened earlier this week and will support the NC State Esports program.

Since the North Carolina General Assembly allocated funds to launch the program last year, students in the existing Esports Club and other partners across the university worked together to build the pilot gaming space. In the long term, $12 million of those funds will be used to build the NC State Esports Arena, which is slated to open in Mann Hall in 2026. It promises to be one of the largest, most immersive collegiate esports facilities in the nation.

Cody Elsen is the first director of NC State Esports, and in that role he will oversee the program’s growth from within the Libraries’ Learning Spaces and Services department.

“Day one of the NC State Gaming and Esports Lab was a success, and the passion our students have shown for gaming has catapulted us to this monumental point,” Elsen said. “Gaming started to gain traction at NC State dating back to the 1970s. The NC State Gaming and Esports Lab gives access to students to not only continue the NC State gaming tradition but truly take it to the next level.” 

Esports are electronic sports that involve playing video games, often at a high skill level. Many games involve intricate teamwork, and gameplay can be broadcast through livestreams on the web. Around the world, esports have a huge fan base and are a key part of the ever-growing gaming industry.

The NC State Gaming and Esports Lab is open to NC State students, faculty and staff who are interested in gaming at any level of experience or playstyle. Complete the online orientation to gain access to the space, and check out the current list of games available here.

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