PlayVS acquires youth esports platform Vanta Esports

Jonno Nicholson
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Image of PlayVS and Vanta Esports logo on an orange background
Image credit: PlayVS

North American collegiate esports platform PlayVS has acquired fellow esports platform Vanta Esports to improve access to esports competition and coaching.

The acquisition aims to build a more comprehensive collegiate esports ecosystem spanning K-12 schools and colleges across North America.

PlayVS’s acquisition of Vanta Esports adds 3,000 K-12 schools to the platform’s extensive network of educational establishments. Vanta Esports has hosted a range of collegiate events in Texas and Hawaii. As a result, marquee events such as the Hawaii Esports Invitational and the Texas State Championship will continue under the PlayVS umbrella.

Vanta Esports provides young esports players with trained esports coaches who lead one-on-one sessions and team practices that focus on strategy, teamwork, and holistic skill development. Programmes are offered through individual scheduling and season-long experiences to assist talent development.

“Vanta has built an exceptional, education-focused platform rooted in coaching, mentorship, and safe competition,” said Jon Chapman, CEO of PlayVS. “By bringing our organisations together, we can expand access for more students, provide greater support for educators, and better serve schools and communities nationwide.”

Founded in 2020, Vanta Esports cemented its place as one of the largest youth esports platforms in the United States. In recent years, it partnered with the Southern University Law Center to establish esports leagues for schools in Louisiana.

PlayVS In 2026

The acquisition of Vanta Esports consolidates PlayVS’s position as one of North America’s largest collegiate esports platforms. In April 2025, it acquired Generation Esports and Playfly College Esports, uniting elementary to college programmes under a single ecosystem.

In 2026, the platform has secured partnerships to streamline processes for the PlayVS College League. On January 8th, it joined forces with Theta Labs for the launch of an AI-powered bot to provide information on a variety of topics, ranging from match schedules to tournament rulings.

Jonno Nicholson

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Jonno is a writer for Esports Insider and has been part of the team since 2019. Over the past ten years, he's written for several outlets including Gfinity, GGRecon, and Radio Times. As an avid sim racer, he aims to provide insight on one of the fastest growing sectors in esports.
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