Recognizing that gaming and esports have become integral parts of the higher education experience, Barnes & Noble College, a division of Barnes & Noble Education, and GameSquare have joined forces to deliver dynamic collegiate esports and gaming programming nationwide. The programming is designed to engage nearly 6 million students across more than 1,100 physical and virtual campus bookstores.
“Gaming and esports are a natural extension of the spirited, social and community-driven student life we support,” said Celeste Risimini-Johnson, Chief Merchandise and Operations Officer at Barnes & Noble College in a statement. “Through our collaboration with GameSquare, we’re excited to offer students new opportunities to connect, compete and thrive — whether from their residence hall or on a national stage.”
The programs, developed and managed by GameSquare’s expanding experiences business, will feature multiple competitions throughout the 2025-2026 academic year, including online qualifiers and live finals held on a national stage. The companies will release a full events schedule later this year.
“We are providing students with opportunities to build their legacies on campus and earn valuable experiences, all with support and guidance from our established platform,” said Justin Kenna, CEO of GameSquare in a statement. “We’re thrilled to partner with Barnes & Noble College to expand our reach and deliver meaningful, student-centered experiences across campuses nationwide.”
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