Esports

The vision for the esports program was born in the summer of 2016. With our successful School of Game Development, thriving gaming community, and our location in the heart of San Francisco Academy of Art is the perfect place for esports to thrive and grow. Our ArtU Esports Lounge was opened on September 19, 2016, and the program officially started. Since then, we have refined our esports program to bring the gaming community closer together through hundreds of events, collegiate competitions, and esports education. Our commitment is to be the best collegiate esports program in the world.

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Academy of Art University is taking esports to another level. We are a proud sponsor of the San Francisco Shock in the 2023 Overwatch League season, providing the team with top-notch practice facilities and housing to bring the team back to the Bay area. This innovative partnership offers Academy students a unique opportunity to learn from one of the best esports organizations in the nation and inspire the next generation of gamers. The Academy will have the honor of hosting watch parties and events on campus, bring together students, local Overwatch fans, and the community for truly unforgettable experiences. Get ready for an esports revolution at Academy of Art University!

Proper

Achievements: 2022 MVP, Role Star and Rookie Of The Year, 2022 Overwatch League runner up, 3-time Overwatch Contenders Korea champion.

Playstyle: He is the carry, when the team is down you can expect Proper to clutch up and get us across the finish line. In one word: “explosive.”

Heesang

Achievements: 4-time Overwatch Contenders Korea champion

Playstyle: Flex DPS

Finn

Achievements: 2022 Overwatch league runner up, 3-time Overwatch Contenders Korea champion.

Playstyle: Tends to be a little aggressive

Max

Achievements: 6-time Overwatch Contenders Korea champion

Vindaim

Achievements: 2-time Overwatch Contenders Korea champion

Playstyle: Plays aggressive

Junbin

Achievements: 6-time Overwatch Contenders Korea champion.

Building A Better Gaming Community

We strive to build the strongest esports and game community by hosting many quality events and working closely with and supporting the ArtU gaming community to promote a social and positive experience. Through intramural, intercollegiate, and community esports programs, we empower our students to realize their full potential academically, personally, and professionally while on the path to collegiate success.

Academy of Art University confidently believes that our students bring innovation and creativity to esports and the community. We look forward to showing the world our innovations in the esports and gaming world for many years to come.

Competition

Born out of a passion for the game and armed with a competitive spirit, our college players are looking to make their mark on the world.

Our teams play Valorant, League of Legends, and Overwatch. While many students put teams together for Hearthstone and Super Smash Bros., Rocket League and Fortnite.

Academics

Students from all areas of study at Academy of Art are given the opportunity to use their career skills in the Esports Studio Classes. Game Development, Communications, Music and Sound Design, Illustration, and many other majors all come together to produce live esports productions and events, both online and in-person.

Community

ArtU Esports invites all viewers, casual and competitive players, to play, watch, and have fun. We strive to create a positive experience for everyone involved.

Our esports lounge is a home for gamers and allows people to play their favorite games while on campus.

We are expanding our community to the public by creating a space where esports enthusiasts in the Bay Area and from around the world can connect.

Careers

We hire and train Academy of Art students in paid positions within our program and help them acquire great work experience and industry skills before graduation. Many of our program alumni have found jobs in game development, the esports industry, or adjacent industries. In collaboration with the School of Game Development we host events, panel discussions, and offer networking opportunities for our students.

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