Air Force turns to video games to help prepare members for real-life combat

The Air Force is partnering with MITRE, a nonprofit national security company, to host an esports tournament it hopes will help better train members for combat.

MITRE has opened up registration to play the game "Drone Guardians," which will require teams of participants to defend a deployed airfield from enemy attacks while still maintaining the ability to launch aircraft missions.

The game will mix elements of first-person shooters, strategy and puzzle games, according the nonprofit, with players being forced to confront a wide range of attacks from land, air, sea, space or even cyberattacks – sometimes all at once. Players will have to work together to prioritize which area to defend while still keeping the airfield running for combat sorties.