US-based high school esports platform PlayVS has expanded its footprint in North America following the acquisition of Vancouver-based esports infrastructure company GameSeta.
According to the release, the acquisition will provide greater access to infrastructure and opportunities for competition in Canada through the PlayVS platform using GameSeta as a local resource to provide guidance. Additionally, GameSeta Co-founders Tawanda Masawi and Rana Taj will join the PlayVS team to lead its Canadian operations.
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PlayVS Founder and CEO Delane Parnell commented in a release: “This acquisition will allow PlayVS to help further its mission of providing the best competitive community for gaming, especially as it relates to expanding our international footprint thanks to the foundation set by GameSeta.
“We’re excited to accelerate distribution and adoption of the PlayVS’ infrastructure so that young people can play esports in a structured and safe environment, all while being recognised for their teamwork and achievements.”
Through PlayVS’ features, coaches in the Canadian region will receive access to the firm’s team or representatives, agents, and coaching academy. These benefits are said to help guide coaches and school administrators through the process of building esports programmes at institutions.
GameSeta President and Co-founder Rana Taj added: “After several conversations with the PlayVS leadership team, it became clear that we had a close alignment on the long term vision for amateur esports. As with GameSeta, PlayVS is laser-focused on the amateur esports industry and provides the technological infrastructure to support esports at the high school level.
“This alignment, along with PlayVS’ market leadership and powerhouse team represents a great opportunity. We look forward to joining the team and partnering with even more schools.”
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In addition to the purchase, PlayVS has also partnered with sports governing body British Columbia School Sports (BCSS).
Through PlayVS’ partnership with BCSS, which is an existing partner of GameSeta, esports will be available as a new offering this year for its network of schools. GameSeta is currently managing a ‘trail season’ in conjunction with BCSS, which is said to be met with great interest from member schools.
Jordan Abney, BCSS Executive Director, spoke about the partnership: “We look forward to working with PlayVS as we continue our BCSS esports trial season that is currently in progress. We have been a leader in exploring interscholastic esports in Canada and with PlayVS as the undisputed North American leader in interscholastic esports, it is a natural fit. BCSS looks forward to the opportunities our partnership can bring to our organisation and member schools.”
Esports Insider says: There’s still plenty of room for growth in the scholastic esports space and PlayVS has been a key player in its expansion, though there’s still a lot of ground left to be covered. The platform’s acquisition and partnership with GameSeta and BCSS respectively should provide a key layer of development in a largely untapped market.
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