KOTA SAMARAHAN: With controllers in hand and freshly brewed coffee within reach, students from nearby campuses now have a new space to unwind.
Outpost, a student-oriented gaming café located at Uni-Central here, combines console gaming, speciality coffee and a comfortable social space within easy reach of the surrounding student community.
The café marked its exclusive soft launch through a collaboration with Khemah Cafe, introducing a concept designed around affordability, accessibility and the everyday needs of students.
Its co-owner, Muhammad Daniel Ezzuddin, 25, said the strategic location was deliberately selected because Uni-Central sat directly opposite UNIMAS and was easily accessible to students, who formed the business’s primary target market.
“We wanted to provide a cosy and comfortable place where students can relax, connect with friends or even hold group discussions.
“Many students do not have their own transport or gaming consoles, so we want to bring that experience closer to them,” he told Sarawak Tribune during the soft launch on Sept 16.
Daniel said the idea for Outpost emerged during his university years after he moved from engineering into business studies.
As he approached the end of his four-year degree, he began considering a sustainable business model that could be developed after graduation.
The concept eventually took shape around a familiar gap in the Samarahan student market—a shortage of affordable places where young people could enjoy quality coffee, play console games and spend time with friends without travelling far.
“Students will always be part of the community here, although each group changes over time.
“We chose them as our main market but we also understand that we must continue following current gaming and consumer trends,” he said.
Stepping inside Outpost, customers are greeted by large television screens, gaming consoles and casual seating that create a relaxed setting rather than the more enclosed atmosphere of a conventional gaming centre.
The café currently houses four gaming stations—two in the open area and another two in private rooms.
All stations feature televisions capable of displaying games at a 120Hz refresh rate and 4K resolution.
The open stations are limited to two controllers while the private rooms cater to larger groups of four to six players.
Daniel said the arrangement was designed to balance the gaming experience with the comfort of customers who visited primarily for coffee or conversation.
Affordability is another central part of the concept.
Outpost offers a two-year membership for RM50, with members entitled to lower gaming rates.
The open station rate is RM10 for members and RM20 for non-members while the private room costs RM20 for members and RM30 for non-members.
Customers can also reserve gaming sessions through outpost-swk.com, allowing them to secure their preferred time slots and avoid waiting for a station to become available.
Daniel said membership was open to everyone and not restricted to students.
Apart from discounted rates, members may also suggest games they would like Outpost to add to its collection, including story-driven titles such as Grand Theft Auto and Assassin’s Creed.
“We need to follow what players want and continue studying the market.
“In the future, we may conduct polls to identify the most requested games and add titles based on demand,” he said.
Coffee is equally important to the Outpost experience, with its collaboration with Khemah Cafe allowing the establishment to serve quality beverages at accessible prices.
Daniel said the café wanted to avoid compromising on quality despite maintaining student-friendly prices.
For now, the menu focuses mainly on beverages, although plans are underway to introduce simple food such as fries and other light snacks.
Rather than serving heavy meals, the café plans to offer food that customers can enjoy while gaming or spending time with friends.
While Outpost was primarily created as a place for students to take a break from their daily routines, Daniel said the café could eventually host private functions and console-based esports activities.
However, he stressed that its immediate priority was to establish itself as a welcoming everyday space rather than merely an event venue.
“Not every student can afford a console, and not everyone has friends who own one.
“We want them to be able to come here, play together and enjoy the experience at an affordable price,” he said.
Daniel also hopes Outpost will attract lecturers, doctors, professionals and other residents around Kota Samarahan.
“This café is not only for students. We welcome the local community and working professionals who want to enjoy proper coffee in the morning or spend time here,” he said.
The proposed operating hours are from 10 am to 2 am, subject to approval from the Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS).
Daniel said the café would adjust its closing time according to the operating hours permitted by the local authority.
He explained that longer operating hours would suit university students, many of whom only had free time after 8 pm or 9 pm.
Should operations until 2 am be approved, the café plans to accept its final gaming bookings at 1am.
Looking ahead, Daniel hopes students and the wider Samarahan community will support the new establishment while offering constructive feedback.
“We are open to reviews and suggestions on what we can improve.
“We hope people will come, spend time here and help us improve Outpost in the future,” he said.
