Mentioned in this article
- Simplicity Esports will acquire gaming center company PLAYlive Nation and its 44 locations in the United States.
- Simplicity, a publicly-traded company, fields teams across several games and operates one current gaming center of its own, with plans to build more.
- SMAAASH Entertainment acquired Simplicity Esports earlier this year.
Simplicity Esports 
has announced a definitive agreement to acquire PLAYlive Nation, a company that operates gaming centers in the United States.
The all-stock transaction will see PLAYlive Nation and its 44 current centers, spread across 11 states, folded into the Simplicity brand. PLAYlive Nation facilities serve more than 150,000 players per year, according to a release, and have console and PC gaming setups along with areas for card game competitions.
Simplicity opened its own first gaming center in April in Boca Raton, Florida, and said that it had established locations for four more facilities. At the time, the company intended to open 15 centers by the end of 2019 and 50 total within 24 months, so the combined footprint following the acquisition will bring Simplicity very close to hitting its longer-term announced goal.
“I am proud to announce the acquisition of PLAYlive, which further demonstrates management’s commitment to reach our aforementioned goal to operate 50 esports gaming centers,” said Simplicity Esports CEO Jed Kaplan, in a release. “PLAYlive combined with existing Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers, represents the largest brick-and-mortar footprint of esports gaming centers affiliated with an esports organization in North America.
Related Article: SMAAASH Entertainment Acquires Simplicity Esports
“We intend to leverage our vast footprint to further implement our brick-and-click approach connecting esports fans, players, gamers, and influencers on a large scale, thereby representing attractive opportunities for corporate partnerships,” he continued. “Simplicity Esports will host competitive tournaments, grassroots community leagues, and special events connecting both professional and casual gamers with our brand.”
Simplicity Esports is a publicly-traded company (Nasdaq: WINR), and was acquired by SMAAASH Entertainment through an all-stock transaction that was completed earlier this year. The organization was founded in early 2018 by Kaplan, a minority owner of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. Simplicity competes in games such as PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS , Gears of War , and Madden NFL .
