As more of our social lives move online, gaming has become another way people connect. Players no longer need to gather around the same screen. Sometimes, all it takes is an invitation to join. At first, you may not even know who’s sitting on the other side, but playing and talking together can create meaningful friendships.
As a BU student and a gamer, I have built relationships through gaming at BU that I still value. Attending the same university helped extend those friendships beyond the screen as we met in person and spent time together outside of class. At BU, gaming can bridge online and offline friendships, and student organizations such as BU Gaming Club give us all more opportunities to make those connections.
BU Gaming Club hosts weekly online sessions and occasional in-person events, giving students different ways to meet and spend time around a shared hobby. Students can participate as casually as they want, whether that means joining an online session or showing up to an event on campus.
On Sept. 26, BU Gaming Club collaborated with BU Smash Society to host a student-only Super Smash Bros. tournament at BU’s Center for Computing and Data Sciences. Crowded around several monitors, students took turns playing matches. Players discussed how matches unfolded, congratulated one another, and encouraged each other after close games. Although the event included a competitive bracket, friendly matches and a casual atmosphere gave students room to enjoy the event without competing.
For students looking for a more competitive experience, BU Gaming Club also provides esports teams for Overwatch, Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, League of Legends, and Marvel Rivals. Players must complete tryouts before joining a team that competes against other colleges in the National Esports Collegiate Conference. Students practice together, compete as teammates, and represent BU in tournaments.
At BU, competitive gaming has a larger presence than many students realize. Agganis Arena hosts major esports competitions, including the CS:GO Boston Major in 2018 and a Rocket League Championship Series event in 2026. BU players also have opportunities to compete in person at events such as BU x BP, hosted at Balance Patch on Commonwealth Avenue. Those tournaments offer a chance to sit side by side and bring their online friendships into college life.
Jay Sha, a member of BU’s Counter-Strike 2 team, first learned about the team through a friend he met online who also attended BU. The invitation gave him a chance to experience esports as part of his college life. “I thought, ‘Why not have a college esports experience?’” Sha said. “It feels like a step closer to the professional level.”
For Leo Chen, a BU alumnus and former BU Gaming Club e-board member, joining the club began with an interest in the Valorant team, but his experience soon went beyond competing. “A lot of the people I met through the club became some of my closest friends,” Chen said. He also enjoyed the club’s weekly meetings, where members could hang out and play casual games regardless of whether they were on a team. “I think it’s a great and easy way to connect and interact with people who share the same interest,” he said.
Gaming may begin with a match or an invitation, but those connections expand beyond the screen. At BU, casual events, online sessions, and competitive teams are turning a shared interest into friendships and experiences outside the classroom.
For some students, gaming becomes more than a hobby. It becomes part of how they find their place during college.
Jack is a senior pursuing his degree in media science at Boston University. He looks forward to developing his media writing and communication skills while exploring his interest in digital media, graphic design, and media analytics.
Leave a Reply