- PlayVS will bring dedicated college and high school leagues for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 2
- Select school will receive Nintendo Switch platforms along with a copy of either game and a 12-month subscription to Nintendo’s online service
- Starting from September 20, the two games are officially recognized varsity athletics in an important move for the high school and collegiate esports ecosystems
Two more titles are joining high school and college esports in the United States, with Nintendo and PlayVS bringing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 2 to the fore.
Super Smash Bros. and Splatoon Now College Disciplines
Nintendo is joining hands with PlayVS, a startup that enables colleges and schools to play together and face off in various esports competitions. As a result, the company will bring its acclaimed gaming franchises, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 2, to the high school and college esports arena.
Schools will have until the fall to draft and prepare their teams as the two games will be available starting from September 20 on in. The games are not sitting on the sideline either, but they are now officially recognized varsity athletics and will be part of school programs. PlayVS and Nintendo will set up college and high school leagues for both Splatoon 2 and Super Smash Bros.
With brand-new titles to the fore, schools will have to find the appropriate hardware and modify their facilities a little. However, Nintendo and PlayVS have participants covered, with hundreds of select qualifying schools getting a Nintendo Switch console and another 3,000 select schools receiving a copy of either Splatoon 2 or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate along with a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate community has been aching for the game to be taken as a little more serious competitive title, and finally, this is happening in the very heart of one of the world’s largest esports markets. PlayVS has already launched registrations for any school or college that is looking to secure a spot in the upcoming leagues, which take three minutes to register for.
Building New Varsity Opportunities for Esports Players
PlayVS has been quite excited about the opportunity. Company CEO Delane Parnell shared that it has long been an ambition of his to get Nintendo’s flagship titles as part of the PlayVS ecosystem and on a collegiate level.
“It’s a privilege to work alongside such an iconic company like Nintendo. We take great pride in being able to offer competitive Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Splatoon 2, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to our community,” Parnell said, talking about the titles.
That is pretty much the same sentiment expressed by Nintendo’s Bill Trinen, who oversees the company’s marketing in America. The company has long been aware of the tremendous hype for the games, and creating more competitive opportunities is precisely what Nintendo wants to accomplish.
Working with a community-focused organization such as PlayVS is just what Nintendo needs to bring these competitive opportunities to a broader audience, Trinen explained.
