Post-secondary education levels up with launch of new Red Bull Gaming Hub at The Creative School

September 7, 2022 (Toronto, ON) - The new Red Bull Gaming Hub launches today at The Creative School (opens in new window) , Toronto Metropolitan University (opens in new window)  in partnership with Red Bull Canada (external link, opens in new window) , empowering innovation and new applications of video game design, virtual production and esports broadcasting while building education, curricular and extracurricular activities.

“We are very excited to usher in the future of education and gaming at the new Red Bull Gaming Hub, with objectives that extend beyond the playing of video games,” says Dr. Kristopher Alexander, Director of the Red Bull Gaming Hub, Director of Research at The Conduit and Assistant Professor in RTA School of Media. Dr. Alexander was instrumental in bringing Red Bull and The Creative School together, as well as defining educational opportunities in the space.

The dedicated video games and esports hub at 80 Gould Street offers new ways of engagement for Toronto Metropolitan University students via video games technology, leading-edge curriculum and facilities development, and bolsters direct pathways to careers in the video games and esports industries. The Red Bull Gaming Hub also provides a learning space that engages students in immersive and innovative ways and supports virtual production and broadcasting using Unreal Engine. The Gaming Hub will also push for deeper investment and growth of the video game industry in Toronto as gaming continues to surge in popularity around the world as well as serve to host competitive esports gaming events and tournaments that can be broadcast globally, making the Red Bull Gaming Hub a new centre for gaming activity in the heart of the city. 

“The Red Bull Gaming Hub is a huge step towards the future of interactive student engagement and competitive excellence in gaming and esports. This hybrid approach will allow students to embrace a new space for learning and application, with a focus on developing practical skills in video game technologies. We will empower students with the tools to explore the revolutionary possibilities of software tools like Open Broadcast System, or more notably Unreal Engine 5, which have applications across the entire spectrum of media content creation,” says Geoffrey Lachapelle, Manager of the Red Bull Gaming Hub. 

“It is no secret in the video games and esports community that virtual production has been an increasing part of esports production, particularly with League of Legends and the World Championship events since as early as 2017s Legends Never Die (external link, opens in new window) , and 2019s Giants (external link, opens in new window) . This new space positions us well with the current needs of the gaming and media production industries,” says Dr. Alexander. 

The educational purpose of the Red Bull Gaming Hub is to provide a space that has the performance capabilities for elite-quality gaming experiences that will allow for the integration of research and instructional content to be delivered in the type of environment that end-use gamers would expect. With eight 4KHD televisions along the walls, a 5:1 surround sound speaker system (ideal for the video game playlist created specifically for the space), the ability to route video to all screens, and classic game libraries ready to play - among many other technical features, the considerations given to the students’ experience and technical needs make this an ideal space for dedicated work and constructive play.

​The space also represents an opportunity for students to experience their first foray into the world of global esports through in-person tournaments and events hosted by Red Bull and other key industry players.

The global pivot to online learning has demonstrated the potential for a reimagining of student engagement. The new facility provides students an ideal space for competition and collaboration, with access to industry-standard technology, and further establishes The Creative School as a leader in digital media and esports infrastructure.

About The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University 

The Creative School (opens in new window)  is a dynamic faculty making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto. 

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Download the full press release. 

Media inquiries:

Ashley Haraburda 

Senior Marketing and Communications Manager 

The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University 

aharaburda@torontomu.ca