Competition Information
Your ultimate hub for schedules, team registration, and season details. Sign Up for UpdatesFall 2026 High School & Middle School Esports
Dear New York Sate Esports Community,
We are thrilled to announce that ESSEF will be adopting FusionPortal as our official online league platform for the 2026–2027 school year!
After reviewing six different platform options – from running the league on a spreadsheet to keeping the status quo – our ESSEF Board of Directors prioritized accessibility above all else. Knowing from our recent coaches’ survey that cost is a significant barrier for many programs, we are proud to announce there will be no participation fees for the 2026–2027 school year.
FusionPortal is an early-access platform developed by HorizonAVL / Esports Integration—a major stakeholder in national esports. Though the platform was initially intended for college esports conferences, they quickly pivoted seeing the need in K-12 esports.Because we are adopting early, ESSEF has a unique opportunity to help shape the platform’s features to directly benefit our NYS schools.
We often teach our students the value of being lifelong learners with a growth mindset. As we embark on this new league structure and platform, there will be a learning curve, but we are excited to grow together. Over the next few weeks, the Board will continue to set up the Fall season and begin onboarding schools. We will reach out as soon as registration officially opens!
Game On,
Scott Beiter – President ESSEF
What platform will ESSEF be using?
We will be using FusionPortal, a new platform from HorizonAVL / Esports Integration. Since it’s currently in early access, our league has a direct voice in shaping its development to best serve our coaches and students.
What titles are being offered?
- Smash Solos
- Smash Crew Battle
- Rocket League 3v3
- Marvel Rivals
- Mario Kart
- Splatoon
- Valorant (Spring only)
What changes can coaches expect?
- Smash trios is now a crew battle format. Crew Battle is the leading gameplay format for collegiate leagues.
- Titles may be split into regional divisions depending on participation. Our aim is to make it more similar to what is experienced in traditional school sports.
- Only coaches will be able to log into the platform. Coaches will be responsible for making teams and entering participant gamertags.
When and where will the state championship be held?
The Fall 2026 State Championship will take place at Syracuse University on December 12. Specific venue details, schedules, and spectator information will be released as the season progresses.
Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Times: 3:00 PM EST or 7:00 PM EST (Choose the session that works best for you)
Location: Google Meet (sign up for our Newsletter below receive the links)
Agenda: First look at our new platform, Fall 2026 details, and live Q&A