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PlayVS and Urban One Launch National HBCU Esports Community During Black History Month

PlayVS and Urban One Launch National HBCU Esports Community During Black History Month
Posted By: Will Moss on February 26, 2026


PlayVS, the leading scholastic esports platform, has partnered with Urban One, the largest Black-owned media company in the nation, to launch a historic national HBCU esports community. The announcement comes during Black History Month, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of competitive gaming opportunities at historically Black colleges and universities.

The collaboration aims to establish a dedicated esports ecosystem specifically designed for HBCUs, creating new pathways for students at these institutions to engage in competitive gaming at the collegiate level. This initiative represents one of the most significant investments in HBCU esports infrastructure to date.

Key Takeaway: This partnership between PlayVS and Urban One establishes the first national esports community specifically designed for HBCUs, expanding competitive gaming opportunities for students at historically Black institutions.

PlayVS has established itself as the premier platform for scholastic esports, connecting high schools and colleges across competitive gaming. The company's expansion into the HBCU space demonstrates a commitment to ensuring that students at historically Black institutions have equal access to the rapidly growing esports industry.

Urban One, known for its extensive reach in Black communities through radio, television, and digital media platforms, brings significant promotional power and cultural understanding to the partnership.



As the nation's largest Black-owned media company, Urban One's involvement signals the mainstream recognition of esports as a valuable component of the HBCU student experience.

Expanding Opportunities in Esports

The timing of this announcement during Black History Month underscores the cultural significance of expanding representation in the esports industry. As competitive gaming continues to grow as both a collegiate activity and a viable career path, ensuring HBCU students have structured opportunities to participate becomes increasingly important.

This initiative joins a growing movement to strengthen HBCU athletics and competitive programs across various disciplines. The esports community is expected to provide students with opportunities for competition, scholarship potential, and career development in the gaming industry.

The national HBCU esports community facilitated by this partnership represents a forward-thinking approach to student engagement and athletic programming at historically Black institutions. As esports continues to gain recognition as a legitimate collegiate sport, HBCUs are positioning themselves at the forefront of this emerging field.

Further details about the structure of the HBCU esports community, participating institutions, and implementation timeline are expected to be announced as the partnership develops.

Originally reported by Google News HBCU.


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