Growing SA’s Gaming Scene: Meet Acer SA’s Gaming Ambassador, Julia “Bish” Robson

Julia Robson, famously known as “Bish,” delved into the world of video games at the tender age of six. By the time she turned thirteen, her interest evolved into a passion for competitive esports. Now, Julia is channelling her energy into fostering the growth of South Africa’s gaming community, teaming up with Acer Nitro, and Acer’s renowned gaming brand, Predator.

A vibrant and enthusiastic personality, Julia “Bish” Robson has embarked on a mission to elevate the esports gaming experience in South Africa. The pro-gamer has established a company that organises LAN events, providing gamers with a platform to bring their computers, engage in their favourite titles against (and with) each other, and connect with like-minded individuals within the country’s gaming sphere.

Since participating in her first public LAN event at the age of 14, Julia has been captivated by the culture. She reflects on this experience, stating, “I became really fascinated with how many people came through with their computers and how passionate they were about showing off their hardware, no matter how good or bad it was. It was always just something that people felt a sense of pride towards. And you get to meet people for who they really were and not the societal boxes I saw in high school and later in workplaces.”

For the love of games

Robson’s initial exposure to video games didn’t occur on a PC but rather on her family’s PlayStation 2 console. However, she soon gravitated towards PC gaming, particularly competitive titles like Call of Duty. Soon, the combination of camaraderie, action, and competition appealed to the young Robson, who also competed in dressage at a provincial level.

“I’m willing to break a few of my bones if I have to! I started horse training at the age of five. But I also love competitive gaming and by the time I reached university, I chose it over competitive dressage. But I still sometimes head out to a friend’s farm to train and compete a little,” expresses Julia.

Today’s games don’t conform to the caricature of pasty and sheltered loners. Many gamers are friendly and active, especially among the gaming communities they join. This sense of camaraderie, even more than the competitive spirit, kept Robson in the game. Even though she had to develop a thick skin in her early years and battle outdated prejudices, she made far more friends than enemies and saw that gaming as an activity brings people together.

It was during her university years that Robson realised her destiny lay in the world of video games. “At uni, I studied two years of dentistry and realised that gaming is more fun. So I booked a trip to Computex and saw the scope of the global gaming industry. I knew this is where I wanted to go. I didn’t know how to do this in South Africa, but I was going to figure it out!”

Since then, Robson has ventured into a multifaceted career, participating in competitive leagues, collaborating with esports and enthusiast gaming communities, streaming content (“No makeup, pyjama-wearing Call of Duty streams on Monday nights do very well!” she quipped), and helps promote LAN culture and gaming for serious and casual players. She also finds time to play a wide range of titles, including hot new games like Valorant and The Finals. And, not the least, representing Acer’s gaming brands as its local ambassador.

Bish and Predator: Gaming’s Finest

Acer SA welcomed Robson as its local gaming ambassador, promoting the market-leading gaming hardware and peripheral brand. This move celebrates Robson’s return as a gaming ambassador, a role she previously filled with great enthusiasm.

“I had the very amazing opportunity to partner with Acer and Predator back in 2019. It sparked a three year partnership where we did so many different things. They joined me on my various career paths in the esports space, from being a content creator and Twitch streamer to starting my own esports org, and now owning my own bring-your-own-computer LAN event company.”

But why Predator? From the perspective of the brand, it’s easy to see the appeal of Robson as its ambassador: she is focused, entertaining, and inclusive to all gamers, and steeped in the culture and lingo of hardcore gamers. She openly embraces the enjoyment of games, even those where she may not excel, highlighting that the true essence lies in the shared experience with other players.

That is the type of personality that embodies the essence of the Predator gaming brand. But why does Robson support Predator? She outlines several reasons, beginning with its appeal to both newcomers and seasoned hardcore gamers:

“I had onboard graphics for the majority of my teen years because I just didn’t know anything about graphics cards. Even now, getting in there with a screwdriver and thermal paste can be risky. The Predator pre-built desktops and laptops are amazing—I can’t believe how much power they squeeze out of those systems. For newcomers, it’s an easy way to start and learn about gaming systems while enjoying peak performance. And Predator has amazing components for hardcore gamers, including high-performance monitors and high-end graphics cards.”

While some other brands can also lay claim to such advantages, Robson notes that Acer distinguishes itself by taking a step further than most:

“It’s unusual to have a global technology brand that pays close attention to what gamers want. But Acer does. Even in my interactions, Acer’s people listen. Just being a group of people willing to listen to what a gamer has to say—it’s very difficult to find a space where you do feel like a family where your input is valued. But that’s Acer and Predator.”

Julia “Bish” Robson and Acer have exciting plans for the future. Keep an eye on her social media feeds (@juliabishrobson on major social media platforms, including Twitch, Tiktok, X, and Instagram) and Acer Africa’s Predator gaming accounts (X: @PredatorAfrica, Instagram: @predatorgamingza, TikTok: acerpredator).

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