Today, Nintendo announced their partnership with PlayVS a company that organizes competitive esports tournaments for high schoolers in the US and Canada. Their plan is to bring Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 2 to events later this year, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe competitions will begin in early 2022 making these games in high schools a part of varsity sports.
PlayVS was established in 2017 with the goal to make esports a varsity sport in high schools. Their goal is to provide a space for students who are interested in video games and competitive play. They do this by supporting coaches and players and organizing tournaments for students through regulated gameplay, competitive frameworks, roster management tools, and more. For students who participate in these events, they must maintain their grades and attend practice regularly similar to other sports teams.
By partnering with video game publishers such as Activision Blizzard, Epic Games, and now Nintendo, PlayVS is able to reach more students and establish gaming as a traditional sport. Some of the games currently available to students in these tournaments include Overwatch, Fortnite, League of Legends, and more. According to the company, they believe that their partnerships provide a
unique approach combines the recognition of state-sanctioned sports with an innovative technology platform, providing a great value for student competitors and a sustainable business model to ensure a stable future for high school esports.
With the Nintendo and PlayVS partnership, students will now be able to play Super Smash Bros., Splatoon 2, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. While all of these games have a level of competitive play already in place, Super Smash Bros. is probably the most notable of the three games. Their partnership will not only provide greater opportunities for students participating in esports but also immerse students into Nintendo’s competitive gaming scene.