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In a move that blends childhood nostalgia with the fast-growing world of esports, PlayVS has teamed up with The Pokémon Company International to bring Pokémon UNITE to middle and high school classrooms across the U.S. and Canada. Starting this Fall season, students will now be able to play the beloved franchise competitively through their schools, officially, and for free.

This marks a pretty massive moment, not just for Pokémon fans, but for scholastic esports in general. It’s the first time The Pokémon Company has partnered with a third party like this to run an official school league. Basically, Pokémon just went from your childhood after-school activity to a legitimate varsity-level competition.

So, what is PlayVS?

If you haven’t heard of PlayVS (Play Versus) before, it’s the leading amateur esports platform in North America. Think of it as the platform that brings organised, competitive gaming into schools, just like school rugby or netball. PlayVS works with high schools, middle schools, and even colleges to give students access to structured esports leagues, complete with coaches, schedules, leaderboards, and real prizes.

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PlayVS Cup High School Competition | Image Credit: PlayVS

They’re officially partnered with big names like the NFHS Network, Special Olympics, and a heap of state and regional bodies. And now, with Pokémon UNITE on board, they’re levelling up even further.

Pokémon UNITE: In the classroom, for real?

Yep, it’s happening. After a small pilot season earlier this year, PlayVS is now making it official. Pokémon UNITE, a team-based 5v5 MOBA game that’s free to play on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices, is joining their competitive line-up.

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Image credit: The Pokémon Company International

What makes this a great fit for schools? The game’s all about teamwork. Players have to strategise, communicate, level up their Pokémon, and outplay the other team, all within a tight time limit. It’s fast, fun, and (surprisingly) full of life skills like critical thinking, leadership, and collaboration.

As Jon Chapman, CEO of PlayVS, put it:

“Bringing Pokémon UNITE into the classroom through structured competition is a meaningful step forward for PlayVS and scholastic esports as a whole. Pokémon has inspired generations of players, and we’re proud to help students connect with the franchise in a new and competitive way.”

What’s in it for the students?

Aside from getting to play Pokémon at school (which is already a dream come true), teams who dominate their local competition will get invited to the PlayVS Cup, the national championship event. There, they’ll compete for scholarships and national bragging rights.

And while Pokémon UNITE is the headline this season, PlayVS already supports a stack of other popular titles like League of Legends, Rocket League, Overwatch 2, Call of Duty, and more through their PlayVS College League and high school offerings.

Pokémon isn’t just for kids anymore

Let’s be real, Pokémon never really left our lives. But seeing it take this big leap into structured school competitions is huge. It shows how much the world of gaming, and especially esports in education, has grown.

Now, with this partnership, kids who once battled Team Rocket on the couch can now compete for real-life titles, scholarships, and a chance to be part of something bigger, all while playing one of the world’s most beloved franchises.

Wanna get involved?

Schools across the U.S. and Canada can sign up for the Fall season and learn more over at playvs.com.