E-Sports
Why Districts Are Turning to Esports to Reach More Learners
The energy was electric: Three teams of students from three neighboring school systems faced off in a high-stakes competition, their colorful jerseys and team pride on full display. But this wasn’t your typical sporting event; students were navigating block-based worlds, racing against the clock to design sustainable, hurricane-resistant schools. This was the South Florida Showdown, […]
The energy was electric: Three teams of students from three neighboring school systems faced off in a high-stakes competition, their colorful jerseys and team pride on full display. But this wasn’t your typical sporting event; students were navigating block-based worlds, racing against the clock to design sustainable, hurricane-resistant schools.
This was the South Florida Showdown, the first Minecraft Education tri-district esports challenge of its kind. For the students, it was more than a game. It showcased communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking — the 4Cs in action. These essential, durable skills are at the heart of frameworks like ISTE’s Standards for Students and the Partnership for 21st Century Learning’s framework, which emphasize what students need to thrive in school and beyond.
Esports Moves from the Sidelines to the Spotlight
Esports has been exploding across schools; thousands of schools now offer some form of competitive gaming. For many students, these programs provide a sense of belonging and a platform for leadership.
“Beyond the thrill of competition, esports supports students’ education by engaging them in exciting online gaming, developing teamwork and collaboration skills, increasing critical thinking and spatial reasoning, and promoting leadership abilities in a safe, controlled online space,” says Dr. Lisa Milenkovic, supervisor of STEM and computer science at Broward County Public Schools.
Through competitive gaming, students strengthen digital literacy, teamwork and social-emotional skills, while also creating pathways to explore STEM learning and career readiness.
Programs like New York City’s Battle of the Boroughs and the South Florida Showdown reframe esports as more than after-school entertainment. They’re becoming instructional models that promote problem-solving, community building and student voice.
“Watching students from across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach come together to solve real-world challenges using Minecraft Education was inspiring,” says Carlos Vazquez, founder of Miami EdTech. “It showed that when we invest in creativity and community, we build more than projects; we build futures.”
Building Real-World Learning Through Games
Florida schools face frequent hurricane threats, making resilient building design a critical local issue. By focusing on hurricane-resistant schools, the challenge connected STEM learning to real-world community needs.
The South Florida Showdown aimed to engage thousands of learners across three counties in designing sustainable solutions for their communities, researching the impacts of climate change and exploring the opportunities of green design for their neighborhoods.
The event’s three-phase structure made room for everyone to get involved:
- Phase 1 District Innovation: Over 350 students submitted Minecraft builds of hurricane-resistant, sustainable communities, showcasing their creativity while tackling real-world problems.
- Phase 2 Semi-Finals: District champions tackled the challenge of restoring the Everglades ecosystem, applying science and teamwork in a digital environment.
- Phase 3 Live Finale: Elementary, middle and high school teams competed in a 30-minute esports showdown, held at the Levan Center of Innovation at Nova Southeastern University, to design climate-resilient schools. Standouts included the all-girl team “The Banana Splits,” the middle school team “1204” from Miami-Dade and high school champs “Coral Crafters” from Broward.
Leigh Arnold, an educational technology specialist from the School District of Palm Beach County, noted that “students enjoyed the opportunity to participate in something they love, while educators were thrilled to see them demonstrate their knowledge through creative builds and presentations.”
What stood out most? The way the Showdown brought together students from every district and grade level. With its success, regional leaders are already planning the next phase, emphasizing teacher training, broader participation and enhanced support. Esports is fast becoming a cornerstone of innovative education.
What Students Take Away from Competitive Play
These esports events are not just about technical proficiency but about building transferable skills that prepare students for the future.
“The real joy came from working together — six minds with a hundred thousand ideas. When we created our world, we had our differences, but we found common ground by including some ideas and compromising on others. Minecraft esport teamwork at its best,” says Nina, a member of the Banana Splits team.
What do students take away from these experiences? More than you might expect:
- Critical Thinking: Students tackle real-world problems with technical expertise.
- Collaboration: Teams build shared purpose and community.
- Future-Ready Skills: Participants gain experience in public speaking and digital design.
- Confidence: English Language learners improve through hands-on projects.
- Teamwork: Students develop leadership and communication skills under pressure.
The gaming world hasn’t always been known for its diversity, but that’s starting to change. Programs like this open new doors for students who don’t always see themselves represented in traditional extracurriculars, especially girls, multilingual learners and students with disabilities.
A student from Coral Springs High School, Broward County, shared, “This was my first time participating in an esports competition, and honestly, I can’t wait to do it again! From the brainstorming to building to the presentation, I feel honored to have been part of this experience.”
How to Launch an Esports Program
Districts hoping to replicate this success can take a few key lessons from the South Florida model:
- Start with curriculum integration. Esports becomes more than a game when tied to academic content. Embedding challenges into interdisciplinary units — such as STEM or social studies lessons that explore environmental impact, community planning or climate justice — turns gameplay into real-world problem-solving.
- Focus on teacher support. Teachers are the backbone of success. Offer hands-on training, lesson plans and co-teaching models to help educators feel confident using game-based tools.
- Leverage accessible tools. Platforms like Minecraft Education offer plug-and-play templates, tutorials and in-game guidance — perfect for easing adoption. Choose tools that are affordable, device-friendly and inclusive.
- Encourage mentorship and partnerships. Partner with local edtech nonprofits, higher ed institutions and industry experts to create authentic experiences. Mentors can guide students in both gameplay and career exploration, strengthening community ties.
As more districts look for innovative ways to prepare students for the digital economy, these esports events set the stage for a new kind of classroom — one that meets students where they are and takes them where they want to go.
Attending ISTELive 25? Check out the session “Build a Chicken: Run an Esports Challenge with Minecraft” for more information on getting started. Register here.
E-Sports
College Football 26 Road to Glory Guide
Road to Glory is back in EA Sports College Football 26 and it is deeper that it has ever been before. The updated game mode now has a high school and college portion of Road to Glory. We have already taken a look at the high school part of the mode and how to become […]
Road to Glory is back in EA Sports College Football 26 and it is deeper that it has ever been before.
The updated game mode now has a high school and college portion of Road to Glory. We have already taken a look at the high school part of the mode and how to become a five-star recruit, attracting the attention of top schools in the country.
Once the player gets past high school and enters college, how can they go from freshman unknown to Heisman Trophy winner? Here’s the full guide on how to navigate through Road to Glory in college.
Players will begin their college careers by speaking with their offensive or defensive coordinator to discuss how to navigate through the week. There are five components to each week, where seven energy points have to be spent on them through the Weekly Agenda. Each section is vital to performance on and off the field, as it can have both positive and negative effects.
Related Article: How to Pre-Download EA Sports College Football 26 Before the Game Releases
Of the five items on the weekly agenda, health is considered the most important. The more hits the player takes during the game as part of the wear and tear system, the more likley they are to get injuried. Make sure to put plenty of points on Healthy to help the player survive through the season.
Keep an eye out for Academic. Many gamers would like to forget about it since it doesn’t seem important when trying to get into the NFL. The thing to watch out for is if the player falls under the 2.0 GPA, he can be ruled academically ineligible and won’t be able to play again until he can get his grade up. It is crucial not to ignore academics, much like real life.
The other important meter is XP or experience points. It can be a grind to get through the next three to four years in college, trying to elevate the player to a high rating, and practice is the best way to achieve that. It’s in the best interest to complete the training part as quickly as possible to either earn the starting job faster or create a large lead in the starting role over the backup.
One of the new features in Road to Glory is the update to the Coach section of the Weekly Agenda. Coach Trust is where gamers can see how many more Coach Trust points they need to become the starter or how much more they need to increase so that the backup misses them. There are rewards to earning a coach’s trust, including being able to call more plays, make audibles at the line, and change protections. Those have to be earned in practice and on the field.
Coach Happiness is new, where on- and off-field decisions will determine how the coach feels about the player. Bad choices can lead to a coach being so unhappy that the player gets benched or worse, might have to transfer because they can never recover. Every decision has a positive and negative effect on the player and how the coach likes them.
Throughout the season, the Road to Glory player will earn skill points that can be used to upgrade their ratings and statistics. Each rating will cost a different number of points, depending on how important that attribute is to the player’s archetype and how low the player’s rating is. An example is a Pure Runner QB could have a 78 Accuracy rating and be able to use four skill points to upgrade their Accuracy by one rating, but a 73 Power rating would take 10 skill points to increase that rating by one.
Related Article: EA Sports College Football 26 Overall Top Player Ratings Revealed
The player will have moments throughout the season that can either have a positive or negative effect on the week. Moments like the starting quarterback inviting the player out to see a movie will cost one energy point if he goes. Saying yes to something like this could help boost the leadership meter. However, saying no to a sorority girl asking the player out to a party could damage his reputation.
There will be an academic adviser who will check in on the player throughout the season. She will ensure that the player knows their grades on exams and whether they are academically eligible to play or if they are safe with the current marks they have. One way to make life easier in school is that if a player has a 3.7 or higher GPA in each of the first three years of college, they can graduate early.
Practices in the mode will feature different drills that players can run. For example, a quarterback will have drills focused on scrambling to a specific spot on the field to throw, an option drill, and throwing passes from the pocket. It’s essential to get golds as often as possible to earn the coach’s trust and experience points.
During games, a grading system will be displayed at the top left of the screen, showing the player’s progress throughout the game. The higher the grade, the better the chance of keeping the starting job and staying on the field. As and Bs are good to have, but anything below a C could have an impact on Coach Trust and Happiness, potentially leading to a warm spot on the bench.
At the end of each season, the player will have the option to enter the transfer portal. The player will be able to see all the possibilities for the teams that would be interested in seeing him join the program. Those with the green bar mean they are highly interested. The summary for each team in the transfer portal will show gamers the following information:
Once a player gets to their junior year, they can have another option to declare for the NFL Draft. At that point, if the player wants to go to the NFL, gamers can save the player and import it into Madden 26’s Superstar Mode to continue playing his career. The final overall rating can determine whether the player will be a number-one pick or land elsewhere in the draft.
The most significant challenge gamers will face is deciding where to allocate their energy points. As long as they make enough time to study and stay healthy while utilizing the practices to gain more XP, that’s the best way to maintain high performance and win the Heisman Trophy.
Related Article: EA Sports College Football 26 Deep Dive on Ultimate Team, Online H2H
E-Sports
College Football 26 Dynasty Mode Guide
Dynasty Mode in College Football 26 has received a much-needed update, making it a deeper experience. One of the most critical aspects of the mode is recruiting, which has become more essential than ever. With the emergence of the transfer portal, being able to bring in top freshmen while finding those veterans to add can […]
Dynasty Mode in College Football 26 has received a much-needed update, making it a deeper experience.
One of the most critical aspects of the mode is recruiting, which has become more essential than ever. With the emergence of the transfer portal, being able to bring in top freshmen while finding those veterans to add can turn the following season from a dud to a playoff spot.
This guide will cover everything you need to know about recruiting in Dynasty mode, including the best strategies for finding top talent without wasting time on all five-star prospects. Get ready to discover three-star and four-star talents who can become the next great players for the school gamers control.
Related Article: How to Win the Heisman Trophy: College Football 26 Road to Glory Guide
The first thing gamers will have to decide on with recruiting, even before looking at the actual prospects, is which backstory to pick for the head coach of the school. There are three options to pick from when creating a coach in Dynasty Mode:
Everyone’s initial instinct would be to select Recruiter to gain a boost ahead of time, but it actually won’t benefit gamers. If the player is controlling a smaller school, this will be the case more than ever, as it will still take time to recruit top players, as winning games is the most critical part of being a good recruiter. The recommendation is to start with Motivator so that the current team can get better late in the season and beyond, and then grow with Recruiter later on.
When evaluating Recruiter abilities to upgrade, this will depend on the roster and where to focus first. It’s always a safe choice to put coaching points towards the quarterback, so recruiting them will be easier. Smaller schools will benefit from this, as good quarterbacks in small schools are more likely to transfer to bigger schools; therefore, having a strong pipeline at the position is imperative. That applies to all positions in general, but everyone knows that quarterback is the most critical position on the team.
During the preseason, this is the best opportunity to set up the recruiting big board and start identifying prospects. The recruiting menu is going to have five tabs to go left and right with:
There are three key pieces of information to monitor on the top right of the screen in the recruiting menu:
For anyone controlling a smaller school, the best way to start, as it can be overwhelming, is to go to “My Pipelines” and first go after players in the same state or around the state where the school is located. This will make the proximity to home an easy recruiting pitch to prospects. Additionally, go to “Recommended,” as this will display the best players to target first.
It will be easy for larger schools to add five-star recruits to their roster, but don’t go all in on them. Be sure to mix it up with three- and four-star recruits, as gems can be found that are better than their rating suggests.
Smaller school coaches would be better off starting at least the first year by targeting two to four-star recruits. After proving that the school is a winner in the first season, target some five-star players in year two.
Once the board is filled with 35 players, offer them all scholarships immediately. This will help keep the school in the running the whole time, rather than trying to recruit after it’s too late. Players might even get lucky and get a commit right after doing it the next week, but that doesn’t happen very often.
After that, start using hours to scout players and see if any of them are gems. Gamers don’t have to spend all their hours on one prospect if there are attributes that match what they want in a school. It’s always safest, though, to use the hours so that if a prospect proves to be a bust, they can be removed early in the recruiting process.
Related Article: How to Become Five-Star Recruit on Road to Glory in College Football 26
Most of the heavy lifting has been done before the season, but that still means there is more work to be done. Actions need to be taken on recruits each week that will require the coach to spend hours. There are several actions that the coach can do during this time:
For a prospect at the top of a gamer’s board, use “Send the House” first to demonstrate how much they want the recruit there. This will be helpful when the prospect narrows down to the top five schools, and the player can opt for the “Hard Sell” to reel them in.
When the “Hard Sell” is used, the game must have at least three motivations with a high letter grade, as there will be 20 different pitches in the sell, each with three motivations grouped. The more A’s the coach and school have, the easier it will be to pitch the prospect on the strength of the school. These motivations include the following:
One action that can either help or hinder a recruit’s decision to attend the school is “Schedule Visit.” Be meticulous about which game the recruit should visit. The bigger the game and the stronger the opponent, the better chance you have of securing them the following week. Winning those games is critical, as losing the game significantly reduces the chances of bringing in that recruit.
Throughout the season, be sure to monitor the bar gauges for each team, as they can fill up quickly. Checking weekly is critical because if your school is far behind at eighth and another school is about to be filled out, it’s better to drop out of the race and spend more hours on another recruit worth the time.
Another vital reason to check every week is that players can lock your school out from getting them if they are no longer interested. At that point, ensure that you remove them so that no hours are spent on them and allocate those to another target.
Also, check out the prospects around the country. There are times when some recruits don’t have anyone targeting them, and they may have good attributes as well. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to pursue those options and see if the prospect can be persuaded to join the school quickly.
There is nothing different about the transfer portal after the season, as it works the same way as recruiting high school players. Gamers will have to offer scholarships, pitch the prospects, and win them over the same way.
Recruiting is one of the biggest challenges in CFB 26. Trying to balance all the prospects to target while ensuring your school doesn’t lose battles on recruits that can’t be afforded to lose can be tough. The reward for landing top prospects is massive, as it sets the program up for a prosperous future.
Related Article: EA Sports College Football 26 Overall Top Player Ratings Revealed
E-Sports
What Fueled Roblox’s 85% Surge In 2025? – Roblox (NYSE:RBLX)
Roblox Corp. RBLX stock has been a standout performer in 2025, surging almost 85% year-to-date and significantly outperforming the Nasdaq Composite’s approximately 5% gain. The stock is trading above its 52-week high of $106.17 on Monday. This growth is underpinned by robust user expansion, effective monetization strategies, key advertising partnerships, and the successful integration of […]
Roblox Corp. RBLX stock has been a standout performer in 2025, surging almost 85% year-to-date and significantly outperforming the Nasdaq Composite’s approximately 5% gain. The stock is trading above its 52-week high of $106.17 on Monday.
This growth is underpinned by robust user expansion, effective monetization strategies, key advertising partnerships, and the successful integration of artificial intelligence.
Roblox distinguishes itself not as a single game, but as a dynamic platform where users can play, create, and share a vast array of user-generated games and experiences.
Also Read: Roblox Aims For 10% Of Gaming Market As Mobile, Desktop Bookings Grow: Analyst
It hosts millions of virtual worlds, empowering its community to build and publish their own creations using the Roblox Studio tool.
The company aims to expand its gaming market share from its current 3% to 10% by improving efficiency through AI integration and streamlining content creation.
Roblox utilizes over 200 AI pipelines that contribute to platform safety, asset generation, and scalability. Genre diversification is a key area of focus, with sports, racing, and role-playing games experiencing 69% growth.
Strong brand partnerships and consistent user spending are positioning Roblox to capture a larger share of global gaming revenue.
Key Developments
On May 1, Roblox reported fiscal first-quarter bookings growth of 31% year-on-year to $1.21 billion, topping the analyst consensus estimate of $1.14 billion. The Average Daily Active Users (DAUs) were 97.8 million, up 26%.
The Hours Engaged were 21.7 billion, up 30%. The average monthly unique payers were 20.2 million, up 29%. The Average Bookings per DAU was $19.92, up 1.2%.
Net loss for the quarter narrowed to $215.06 million, down from $270.60 million in the same period last year.
Roblox expects second-quarter bookings of $1.165 billion-$1.190 billion (versus the consensus of $1.170 billion) and fiscal 2025 bookings of $5.285 billion-$5.360 billion versus the analyst consensus estimate of $5.210 billion.
On June 10, Roblox announced the hiring of Naveen Chopra, former CFO of Paramount Global PARA PARAA, as its new finance chief. Chopra brings over two decades of financial leadership experience to the position.
What Analysts Are Saying About Roblox
On June 24, CNBC’s Jim Cramer recommended buying Roblox, citing potential for further upside. However, Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest sold 129,061 shares of the online gaming platform on June 27, indicating a different investment approach.
Twenty-six analysts have set a consensus price forecast of $81.25 for Roblox. More recent ratings suggest higher individual forecasts, with Oppenheimer providing the highest forecast of $125 on June 18, 2025. Recent ratings from BTIG, JP Morgan, and Wells Fargo average around $120, suggesting an approximate 11.32% potential upside from the current price.
Bank of America analyst Omar Dessouky maintained a Buy rating on Roblox on April 21, citing its large developer base and innovation potential beyond gaming. He anticipated that cash flow would exceed estimates and identified upside from initiatives like regional pricing and advertising revenue growth. Dessouky noted Roblox is under-owned and may attract more investors seeking resilient growth amid tariff and spending risks.
Price Action: RBLX stock is trading higher by 4.03% to $107.76 at last check Monday.
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Image via Shutterstock
E-Sports
Team Spirit Leads Dota 2 Odds
Team Spirit leads the way with the shortest odds to appear in the 2025 Esports World Cup Dota 2 Final at +110 odds. PARIVISION, Team Liquid, BB Team, and Tundra Esports all have +300 odds or shorter to reach the final. SAUDI ARABIA – The 2025 Esports World Cup will take place in Riyadh, Saudi […]
- Team Spirit leads the way with the shortest odds to appear in the 2025 Esports World Cup Dota 2 Final at +110 odds.
- PARIVISION, Team Liquid, BB Team, and Tundra Esports all have +300 odds or shorter to reach the final.
SAUDI ARABIA – The 2025 Esports World Cup will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as teams from around the world meet for the biggest gaming event of the year. Here are the teams with the shortest odds to appear in the Dota 2 final.
2025 Esports World Cup Odds To Reach The Final
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Team Spirit | +110 |
| PARIVISION | +150 |
| Team Liquid | +200 |
| BB Team | +200 |
| Tundra Esports | +300 |
| Team Falcons | +400 |
Legal sports betting sites give Team Spirit the best odds to make the final, while PARIVISION, Team Liquid, and BB Team are close behind.
While they will be playing Dota 2 during this tournament, Team Spirit won The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, in which they competed in Counter-Strike 2. They also won The International 10 and The International 12, in which they competed in Dota 2.
PARIVISION has won two Dota 2 tournaments in 2025: the ESL One Raleigh 2025 and the DreamLeague Season 26. They also finished second in their most recent tournament, FISSURE Universe: Episode 5, in early July.
Team Liquid won two events this year as well. However, they have not won any since April. They claimed titles at both PGL Wallachia Seasons 3 and 4, but have only placed inside the top 5 in one other tournament this year.
BB Team has been hot as of late, winning their most recent outing at PGL Wallachia Season 5 and finishing second at the event prior. They also won FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 back in March.
Tundra Esports has won six events this year, making them a formidable opponent for any club. However, a shaky appearance in their last outing gives them slightly discounted odds at +300.
Rounding out the top six is Team Falcons, who have yet to win an event in 2025. They had a dominant 2024 season, earning 10 titles, but have yet to establish their footing this year.
Esports betting sites imply a very open competition in this year’s 2025 Esports World Cup, but the best bet is likely BB Team, who has been playing their best at the right time. If you are looking to bet on Dota 2 in this year’s World Cup, BB Team is the way to go.
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News tags: BB Team | eSports | PARIVISION | Team Falcons | Team Liquid | Team Spirit | Tundra Esports
Drew is currently a student at Florida State University, originally from Massachusetts. He has a background playing basketball, including both for the high school varsity team and pool basketball with his friends. Drew is a die-hard Celtics fan and also enjoys football and baseball.
E-Sports
British Esports Arena Set for 2026 Launch in Sunderland
British Esports confirms it has secured multi-million pound funding to build a national Gaming and Esports Arena in Sunderland, with work due to begin in September 2025 and the venue scheduled to open in early 2026. The 15,000 sq. ft. facility will sit adjacent to the federation’s existing National Esports Performance Campus (NEPC) and is […]
British Esports confirms it has secured multi-million pound funding to build a national Gaming and Esports Arena in Sunderland, with work due to begin in September 2025 and the venue scheduled to open in early 2026.
The 15,000 sq. ft. facility will sit adjacent to the federation’s existing National Esports Performance Campus (NEPC) and is designed to host major esports events, educational activities, and commercial functions. Funding has been approved by a UK high street bank.
British Esports is the national federation for esports in the United Kingdom. It launched the NEPC in 2023 as a multi-site hub for competitive training, live broadcast, bootcamps, and esports development programs.
Training, education, and broadcast facilities
The new arena includes a 200-seat auditorium, 17-meter LED display, broadcast and editing suites, team performance rooms, retail and hospitality zones, and a large external activation area for events. British Esports says the venue is built to be flexible enough to host live competition, music, community events, and commercial functions such as game launches.
It is also intended to support esports-specific education pathways. Students enrolled in qualifications such as the Esports BTEC or university-level esports courses will have access to the venue for live events, competition logistics, production, and content delivery. The federation confirms the space will be used by schools and colleges participating in its Student Champs tournaments, giving learners exposure to live broadcast environments and team-based production work.
The venue is positioned as a multi-use performance center, enabling practice under tournament conditions, including stage lighting, crowds, and broadcast setups. It is expected to support preparation for international esports events such as the Esports World Cup and the Olympic Esports Games.
Andy Payne, Chair of British Esports, says: “This is our St George’s Park for esports, a national home with world-class performance spaces that will help train the next generation of esports talent and help grow the region to be a key leader in esports in the UK. The arena completes a multi-year vision to develop a campus that’s built to develop esports athletes, deliver first-class events, and support entrepreneurs and creators.”
Part of wider Sunderland regeneration
The arena will be located near the Stadium of Light and forms part of the Riverside Sunderland redevelopment, one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects.
The NEPC currently spans 30,000 sq. ft. and includes high-spec gaming rooms equipped with hardware from Alienware, NVIDIA, Intel, and Secretlab. It can accommodate up to 27 resident guests and is already used by international teams and federations. Past occupants include Team Falcons, winners of the Esports World Cup, and national teams in NBA 2K and Rocket League.
Council leaders welcome the announcement as a step forward for both the city and the wider region.
Michael Mordey, Leader of Sunderland City Council, says: “We are thrilled to see work progressing on the development of British Esports’ Gaming and Esports Arena at Riverside Sunderland, which is held up as one of the most ambitious regeneration schemes in the UK right now.
“It is a game-changing development which will cement Sunderland’s reputation as the home of esports in the UK, while providing a major boost to the regional economy, creating high-skilled jobs for local people and attracting visitors from across the globe to our transforming city.”
Payne adds: “We have designed our facility so that on any given day we could be a training and performance hub, running a global esports tournament, hosting a publisher game launch or hired out as a music venue. The flexibility of the arena will be what makes it a sustainable facility that drives value back to British Esports, so that we can do more work for our community.”
E-Sports
VTEC Launches First UK VR Esports Tennis Center at Dundee and Angus College
VTEC UK’s first Center of Excellence for VR Esports Tennis has been launched in partnership with Dundee and Angus College, according to a LinkedIn post by Stuart Kosters, VTEC UK Partnerships Director for Education and Events. The collaboration introduces VTEC’s virtual reality tennis platform into the college’s curriculum, combining movement-based technology, sport, and STEM skills […]
VTEC UK’s first Center of Excellence for VR Esports Tennis has been launched in partnership with Dundee and Angus College, according to a LinkedIn post by Stuart Kosters, VTEC UK Partnerships Director for Education and Events.
The collaboration introduces VTEC’s virtual reality tennis platform into the college’s curriculum, combining movement-based technology, sport, and STEM skills development.
Kosters writes that he is “truly proud to see Dundee and Angus College lead the way for us in the UK,” noting that the program provides “opportunities for online, international, and national competitions, and healthy STEM learning featuring VTEC VR Esports Tennis.”
VR tennis platform aims to support digital and employability skills
VTEC VR Tennis is a virtual reality platform that teaches tennis through motion-based gameplay and esports formats. Developed by former professional tennis players in collaboration with the creators of Tennis Esports, the platform blends physical activity with immersive VR environments. It is designed to be used across age groups and skill levels, with applications in both PE and esports-focused settings.
The program also introduces students to data analysis, teamwork, event planning, and other curriculum-linked outcomes. A cost-based licensing model allows schools and colleges to implement the platform without major infrastructure investments.
Kosters comments in the official announcement: “Their commitment to innovation, employability, and community aligns perfectly with our mission at VTEC VR Tennis. Together, we’re not just introducing cutting-edge, movement-based tech like VR tennis—we’re embedding future-ready skills, wellbeing, and opportunity directly into the student experience across the region.”
College pilot shows broad engagement beyond sport and tech learners
Dundee and Angus College has already piloted the VR Tennis Esports program at its Kingsway Campus. According to the college, the pilot engaged students across a variety of departments, not limited to those typically aligned with technology or sports pathways.
Laura Louch, Curriculum Project Leader at the college, says: “Piloting the VR headsets at our Kingsway Campus has already shown the potential to engage students across a wide range of curriculum areas—not just those traditionally linked to tech or sport. This partnership opens new opportunities for collaboration, inclusion, and creativity, while helping our learners build digital and employability skills in a fun and active way.”
Scan Computers supports rollout as technology partner
VTEC confirmed that Scan Computers is the official technology partner for the VR Tennis Esports rollout. The company is supplying high-performance PCs, VR systems, and esports-ready equipment to ensure the platform can be delivered at scale.
The hardware is intended to support both competitive gameplay and broadcast-ready use cases, ensuring integration into esports hubs, classrooms, and school facilities without compromise in performance.
Further partnerships or Center of Excellence designations may follow, with VTEC inviting other institutions to express interest in program adoption. For now, the Dundee-based pilot marks the company’s first UK deployment, with student access already underway.
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