Future First Gaming opens downtown Wilmington center

Future First Gaming cut the ribbon on its first brick-and-mortar location this week in downtown Wilmington. | PHOTO COURTESY OF STEPHEN SYE

WILMINGTON  Future First Gaming has opened its first office in the Nemours Building, transitioning from only virtual reality and online spaces to hybrid settings.

The four-year-old startup founded by Malcom Coley,  Stephen Sye and Newty Felton has signed a two-year lease for a 2,600 square-foot store on the first floor of 1007 N. Orange Street, which is currently undergoing renovations on the building for its eventual Market West transformation. Coley and Sye cut the ribbon on Future First Gaming Central Tuesday night with Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and other state leaders in attendance.

The Future First Gaming Center features a lounge nicknamed the fishbowl, 16 gaming computers and a 75-inch monitor fit for video game competitions. The fishbowl lounge can also double as a space for workshops and corporate team building events. The space also includes a multimedia center so people can film a Twitch or YouTube stream or a podcast. Other computers include high-level artificial intelligence programs for creative work or data collection services.

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“It’s truly a landmark moment for us and I’m deeply humbled by the overwhelming support we received from the community,” Sye told the Delaware Business Times. “The center is more than just an eSports and technology center; it’s a beacon of opportunity, innovation and community spirit. This space is dedicated to nurturing the talents and ambitions of Delaware’s youth, providing them with the tools and resources they need to become tomorrow’s leaders.”

Established in 2020, Future First Gaming aims to train under-resourced kids in the Wilmington area in technology by using eSports — or competitive video gaming — as a way to develop those skills. It’s estimated that 3.2 billion people identify as gamers. Coley said the hope is to leverage that interest to bridge the digital divide among Delawareans.

“We really want to help bridge that gap with underrepresented students in the STEM field and grow that economic potential through technology,” he told DBT. “When we first started this, it was about serving the underrepresented in the gaming space, but as we’ve grown it’s also about hitting that on a tech basis as well.”

For years, Future First Gaming was 100% virtual but started to branch out to hybrid gaming competitions, including some which were hosted at Theater N at the Nemours Building. Last year, the company also signed a deal to offer an eSports certificate with Wilmington University. 

Looking to the future, Coley said it’s time for the company to open a brick-and-mortar space to get to the next level and build that community. Recently, Future First Gaming was awarded a $50,000 EDGE Grant and it won the top prize of $20,000 at the Starup302 pitch competition.

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“You can have a specific energy in a virtual space, but there’s also something special about having that fellowship when you’re together playing video games in one core space,” he said. “We’ve already created that space, but I think we’ll be able to do more when we’re in our own physical space. We’re just now in that spot that we can have that balance of enjoying technology and building our future innovators on and offline.”

The start-up has also developed workforce development programs focused on marketing, business development and programming and more. With several high schools just blocks away, the Future First Gaming Center can draw students in for an afternoon of fun but also start to reach out to young adults and the older population.

“The older populations have some trouble learning in a virtual space, so the idea is that they can come here and learn traditional and non-traditional tech skills, from certifications to cybersecurity,” Coley added. “Nothing like this exists in the region. The closest place that has something similar is Philly.”

Sye added that he enjoyed seeing the smiles on those who attended the ribbon cutting, seeing it as a sign that the business is on the right path. 

I am confident that the impact of this center will ripple outwards, touching countless lives and driving positive change in our community,” he said. “We are just beginning this incredible journey, and I look forward to working together with our supporters, partners, and the entire community to continue making a difference. The brightest days are ahead of us, and I am excited for the future we will create together.”

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