UK university esports body National Student Esports (NSE) has announced a partnership with the British arm of Japanese game developer Nintendo.
The collaboration will see both entities launch in-person tournaments around the UK for Nintendo’s recently-released Mario Strikers: Battle League Football game. Moreover, online community events for the title will take place over the next year.
NSE’s Mario Strikers: Battle League Football University Circuit will open in October to coincide with the new university year. Regional events will be held on university campuses across the country.
University teams will compete in teams of four at the regional events. The teams will also be able to play other titles, such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, in between competitive games. Winners of regional tournaments will progress to December’s in-person final.
NSE’s relationship with Nintendo UK goes back to 2019, when the university esports body delivered a series of UK university Super Smash Bros. tournaments. A year later, NSE hosted Animal Crossing: New Horizons events to support students during lockdown.
Nintendo UK seems to be building a strategy of long-term grassroots esports partnership. In 2021, the company collaborated with non-profit Digital Schoolhouse to deliver a junior esports tournament for Mario Kart. Nintendo also worked with US-based competitive tournament platform Battlefly to deliver a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament.
NSE will continue to run Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments and offer community events for other titles over the next year. This includes Mario Kart and Nintendo Switch Sports.
Kalpesh Tailor, Head of Communications at Nintendo UK commented “Nintendo’s continuing mission is to create unique entertainment that puts smiles on the faces of people all over the world and we feel that connecting with grassroots groups such as NSE is a great way to do this.”
Signups for the Battle League Football circuit will open to all UK university students in September.
