Red Wolf Nation welcomes esports to the Pack.

IU East is adding varsity esports at the start of the 2021 academic year.

Indiana University East will add a varsity esports program starting with the 2021-22 school year.

Esports is a video game-based form of competition that has rocketed in popularity in recent years.

“We’re excited to be the first IU regional campus to offer varsity esports,” said IU East Director of Athletics Joe Griffin. “We know esports is an up-and-coming activity, and we see that it is something our students really want here at IU East.”

IU East plans to launch teams competing in five to seven games. League of Legends and Rocket League teams in particular appear to be natural fits for the IU East Varsity Esports Team. The Esports Club at IU East already competes in both games. Other teams will be considered based on student interest and the development of the varsity program.

Work on an IU East esports arena, powered by Alienware, is already underway.

IU East first entered into the esports world when a group of students formed the Esports Club at IU East in 2019. The student club will continue, in the hopes the varsity and club squads will benefit each other in their growth and development. The club will switch gears and rebrand to more of a social/non-competitive environment to provide gaming based gatherings and events on campus.

For more information and updates on Esports at IU East, visit Red Wolves Athletics at iueredwolves.com.