While Eastern Michigan University's ESports facility serves as the hub for its varsity teams, it also acts as a resource for students interested in online gaming, multiplayer and opportunities to play alongside their community.
In 2024, the ESports team's primary space relocated from the Rec/IM to the Student Center.
Alongside the relocation, the change also came with an upgrade to the space. While the REC/IM location allowed for students not affiliated with ESports who paid a Rec fee to access the computers, the new space allows for significantly more students to use the space at once, with more than 20 computers, gaming systems and an upgraded studio for production student interns.
Open Monday through Friday from noon to 10 p.m., the space includes free access to monitors, headsets, mouse and keyboards, and the ability to download games onto select computers for play. Currently, EMU's ESports facility houses six varsity teams, competing in Call of Duty, League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros and Valorant.
Each semester, the teams play in the ESports Collegiate Conference, and each of their games can be viewed while livestreamed on their Twitch. The service also allows for students to view past matches.
While not all students interested in gaming have the passion to play on a varsity level, ESports also offers students the opportunity to play on low-stakes teams, and to meet and game with other EMU students through its Community Teams, according to EMU ESports Coordinator Zach Lewis.
Currently, there is one available team for EMU students to join. EMU's Super Smash Bros team, which is a 2D fighting game featuring some of Nintendo's most iconic players, meets weekly in the Student Center outside of the ESports facility. For more information, contact @.symphonies on Discord.
Alongside Super Smash Bros, EMU ESports is also in the planning stages of creating four other community-based teams. The first, Rainbow Six Siege, adds tactical strategy to the classic "shoot-em-up genre." Next is Splatoon, which challenges players to take up as much space as possible with colorful ink and an animated art style.
ESports is also in the planning stages of developing a community Fortnite team, as well as team centered around online chess matches, where individuals can play the classic game with people located all over the world.
For more on the teams currently in development, contact information and further details can be found on EMU ESports' website.
Groups of students passionate about games not listed can also register to create an official Community Team. To be accepted, each team must designate a team manager to act as the main point of contact between both the team and EMU's ESports faculty, and play once a week at the facility. Interested applicants can register on the group's website.
ESports premiered its 2025-26 season documentary April 15, 2026, Lewis said.
Those interested can visit EMU ESport's Instagram page at emuesports for updates.
Christopher Cathon, also known by his username "wulfanite," expressed that he was looking forward to the banquet and the chance to show students what ESports does throughout the season.
"I've never been a part of it, since it's my first year ... The last two semesters, they've gotten [a lot] of footage of us playing and interviews," Cathon said of the documentary. Currently, Cathon plays Valorant competitively for EMU.
More information on EMU ESports' upcoming events, competitions and summer programs can be found on the group's website.
To speak to current members of the ESports community, or to join one of ESports' Community Teams, students can find the invite to the group's Discord on their website.
