Esports Continues Its Surge in Education

One of the most noticeable trends was the expanding footprint of esports in schools and colleges. What used to be a niche activity has rapidly matured into a fully legitimised pillar of digital learning. The conversations weren’t just about competition anymore; they were about skills development, team strategy, digital citizenship, hardware infrastructure, and pathways into careers. It’s clear that esports is no longer “coming soon” to education; it’s here, growing, and demanding long-term planning from institutions.

AI in the Classroom: A New Normal

AI dominated every discussion. Educators are leaning into AI as a teaching assistant, designing resources, differentiating content, analysing progress, and giving back some long-lost time. But the other side of the conversation was even more interesting: students’ own use of AI. Many exhibitors focused on tools that help schools navigate this new landscape constructively rather than restrictively. The consensus? AI literacy is fast becoming as essential as traditional digital literacy, and schools need frameworks, not fear.

‘Ramageddon’: Device Costs on the Rise

But for all the excitement, a storm cloud loomed over the hardware vendors. Several major manufacturers quietly (and some loudly) acknowledged what many of us feared: a minimum 20% increase in client device costs is landing across 2026. Dubbed “Ramageddon,” rising costs of both storage and memory are escalating device pricing even further, especially for devices that rely on higher spec to support AI-driven workloads.

Supply Squeeze Ahead

And the price hikes aren’t the only concern. Vendors warned that these component pressures will also have a knock-on effect on device availability over the coming months. Longer lead times, reduced promotional pricing, and fewer options at the lower end of the market all seem inevitable.

If you're responsible for device rollouts, fleet refreshes, or long‑term EdTech planning, now’s the time to get ahead of the curve. Our Public Sector team is on hand to support with forecasting, budgeting, and building a resilient procurement strategy to navigate what’s coming.

Feel free to get in touch—we’re here to help you prepare for a challenging but exciting year in education technology.