CULVER CITY, CALIF. — In February 2026, the nation’s foremost content creation and distribution company superserving African American consumers and PlayVS joined forces for a first-of-its-kind collaboration to create a dedicated competitive gaming community for HBCUs nationwide.
Now, its name and logo have been shared, as well as a list of 25 schools that have committed to participating.
The name of this new national HBCU collegiate esports competition is Power4+ HBCU Esports League.
The inaugural season begins in February 2027, and schools participating include Bowie State University, Clark Atlanta University, Grambling State University, and Howard University.
A three-year partnership “establishes a dedicated, fee-free competitive gaming ecosystem within the PlayVS College League, designed to expand access, visibility, and career pathways for HBCU students nationwide,” PlayVS and Urban One shared in an announcement.
Charles O’Donnell, Director of Collegiate at PlayVS, comments. “By partnering with Urban One, we are combining best-in-class competition with powerful storytelling and national reach. We’re building a long-term pipeline that supports students from competition to careers in gaming, technology, and beyond.”
Alvord Reese, AVP of Sales at Urban One, adds, “Black consumers continuously drive cultural and commercial trends, and gaming is no exception. By combining Urban One’s media reach with PlayVS’ infrastructure, we are creating an unprecedented, high-impact platform for partners and brands looking to authentically engage with this highly influential, tech-forward audience.”
