PlayVS said it has acquired Vanta Esports, combining two education-focused scholastic esports communities as PlayVS pushes to broaden access to organized competition, coaching, and school-aligned programming for students across the U.S.
The companies said the deal adds roughly 3,000 K–12 schools to the PlayVS network and strengthens PlayVS’s position as an end-to-end competitive gaming ecosystem spanning both K–12 and college. Financial terms were not disclosed.
PlayVS framed the acquisition as a way to deepen its offering for schools and educators by layering in Vanta’s coaching-led approach, which connects youth players with trained, vetted esports coaches for team practices and one-on-one sessions focused on gameplay strategy, communication, teamwork, and broader skill development. The company said Vanta delivers those programs through a youth-safe, COPPA-compliant platform, with options ranging from season-long team experiences to more flexible individual scheduling.
Vanta also brings a foothold in several states, including Texas and Hawaii, along with a portfolio of in-person and marquee events that will continue under PlayVS. Those include the Hawaii Esports Invitational and championship LAN events such as the Texas State Championship, which PlayVS said will benefit from broader scale and infrastructure following the integration.
The acquisition follows PlayVS’s expansion efforts in 2025, including the additions of Generation Esports and Playfly College Esports, as the company works to build what it describes as a complete pathway for students and schools that extends beyond esports competition into areas such as broadcasting and STEM-related programming.
PlayVS positions itself as a scholastic and collegiate gaming platform focused on education-aligned competition, and said its college efforts include the PlayVS College League, launched in 2025. The company also said it serves as an official esports partner to the NFHS Network, the Special Olympics, and more than 40 state and regional organizations across the U.S. and Canada.
KEY QUOTES:
“Vanta has built an exceptional, education-focused platform rooted in coaching, mentorship, and safe competition. By bringing our organizations together, we can expand access for more students, provide greater support for educators, and better serve schools and communities nationwide. Our mission has always been to unlock the positive power of gaming, including teamwork, leadership, confidence, and problem-solving, and this expansion allows us to deliver that impact at significantly greater scale.”
Jon Chapman, CEO, PlayVS
“From the start, it was clear that PlayVS and Vanta share the same beliefs about the positive role gaming can play in students’ lives. Our teams are deeply committed to coaching, community, and meaningful competition, and we’re excited to keep building together.”
Patrick Cronin, CEO, Vanta Esports
