PlayVS has announced a partnership with The Pokémon Company International (TPCi) that will see Pokémon UNITE join its free competitive leagues for middle and high school students in the United States and Canada this autumn. This represents the first time TPCi has worked with a third party to deliver official scholastic esports leagues.
The announcement follows a pilot programme held earlier this year in which PlayVS ran a recreational league to prepare schools for the first competitive season. Now, as the Official Scholastic League Partner for Pokémon UNITE, PlayVS will integrate the title into structured school-based competitions.
Pokémon UNITE, a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) launched in July 2021, is available on both mobile devices and Nintendo Switch. Its team-based format encourages skills such as strategy, collaboration, and leadership, which PlayVS says align with the wider educational benefits of scholastic esports.
Winning schools from the autumn season will progress to the PlayVS Cup, the platform’s national championship event, where they will compete for scholarship prizes and national recognition.
PlayVS CEO Jon Chapman described the move as “a meaningful step forward for PlayVS and scholastic esports,” highlighting Pokémon’s enduring appeal among students and its potential to inspire competitive engagement in schools.
By adding Pokémon UNITE to its portfolio, PlayVS broadens its offering of recognised esports titles for school competition. The company hit headlines recently for announcing its new collegiate competition framework, the PlayVS College League (PCL), which will operate across more than 1,000 campuses during the 2025–2026 academic year.
Schools interested in participating in the upcoming season can find more information at playvs.com.
