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PlayVS, the leading amateur esports platform in North America, has recently announced its acquisition of Generation Esports and Playfly College Esports, aiming to enhance its influence in the competitive gaming space.
This strategic move aims to consolidate the full spectrum of the scholastic esports framework, encompassing middle school, high school, and collegiate levels, into a cohesive pathway for student gamers, coaches, and educational institutions. The integrated organization will employ approximately 80 individuals.
With the incorporation of Generation Esports and Playfly College Esports into its umbrella, PlayVS reinforces its commitment to creating a unified channel that aids students in competing, honing their skills, and discovering opportunities throughout their educational experiences.
The partnerships position PlayVS at the forefront of scholastic and collegiate esports, boasting the largest presence across various esports leagues for middle and high school students, as well as those in college. This development will enable PlayVS to connect with more than 900 colleges, facilitating a structured and clear pathway for participants from early competitive gaming into higher education.
“This represents a landmark moment for both esports and educational gaming,” said Jon Chapman, CEO of PlayVS, in a recent statement. “By uniting Generation Esports and Playfly College Esports under the PlayVS name, we are paving a revolutionary path for students to harness the beneficial aspects of gaming at every level. From middle school initiates to high school competitors and those advancing to college, students can now utilize a single platform to develop essential life skills, network with their peers, and explore significant academic and career pathways.”
Moreover, the expanded network introduces innovative ways for students to connect with gaming, serving as a vehicle for both personal and academic progression. Through its esports initiatives, PlayVS promotes the cultivation of vital STEM and technology skills, equipping students for emerging and exciting career opportunities in the future.
Generation Esports provides a curriculum called Gaming Concepts, which ensures that participants not only engage in esports but also acquire practical skills beneficial for their future careers. PlayVS emphasizes that its platform transcends mere gaming, focusing also on career development, scholarships, and positively impacting communities.
This growth initiative opens the door for partners aligned with PlayVS’s mission to support the increasing significance of esports in academic contexts. As its ecosystem reaches millions of Gen Z students across educational institutions, there’s a significant opportunity for investment in the intersection of gaming, education, and youth engagement.
Brands and sponsors are now positioned to participate in esports through structured programs that emphasize skill-building and community involvement in educational environments.
“Esports has been a core component of Playfly’s investment strategy from the outset, and we take pride in the team that has successfully developed our esports sector,” said Craig Sloan, CEO of Playfly Sports, which oversees Playfly Esports, in his statement. “As they integrate with PlayVS—an established leader in the esports arena—we are optimistic they will continue to flourish and significantly influence the future of competitive gaming.”
In terms of metrics, PlayVS serves as the foundation for prominent scholastic esports leagues, determining official state champions across various titles, including League of Legends, Mario Kart, and NBA 2K, within over 40 state and regional organizations across the U.S. and Canada. Their operations span more than 5,000 schools and will expand with the addition of 900 colleges from this partnership.
When asked about the workforce involved, Chapman noted in a correspondence with GamesBeat, “More than 20 team members from Generation Esports and Playfly College Esports will join PlayVS following these integrations. We are enthusiastic about merging our talents and resources to better serve students, educational institutions, and the wider amateur esports community.”
Discussing the timing of the acquisitions, Chapman explained, “Now is an ideal moment to consolidate these organizations as student-centered amateur esports is gaining remarkable traction, with increasing participation, impactful roles in schools, and a surge in community involvement nationwide. We view this as a crucial opportunity to unify scholastic and collegiate communities under a collaborative framework that can drive sustainable growth and meaningful contributions across the entire esports landscape.”
Source
venturebeat.com