The transition from gaming as a hobby to going professional can be as tasking as it is adventurous. Since video gaming went mainstream, more and more people are exploring opportunities to play for financial gain. And with some gaming experience, you can start down that road as well.
How to become a professional gamer
It is a fact that pro gaming is a different world from playing for leisure. However, it is with the capacity and experience of casual gaming that you can reach for a pro status. Moving on, we'll guide you through some steps and requirements for pro gaming and how to get paid to do it.
Specialize (Choose your games)
According to recent statistics, most profitable pro gamers specialize in one game or another. As such, playing a wide variety of games may be good for leisure but certainly not for pro gaming. You'll need to focus on certain in-demand, complex and very entertaining games. Remember, the crux of pro gaming is being much better than the average player, which opens up income opportunities.
Provided you're already vested in the field, discovering ideal games to run with shouldn't be a tough find. But if you're relatively new, then you'd have to do some homework. Same way casino users search the net for the best games to get top bonus deals and high returns. In this case, you'd be on the lookout for games with high media appeal that suit your skillset.
Start Playing (Practice and Perfect)
Jane McGonigal, game designer and author - "Gamers always believe that an epic win is possible and that it's always worth trying, and trying now. Gamers don't sit around."
This tip is especially crucial for fairly experienced folk and newcomers. As you can figure, whether or not you become significant in eSports will depend a lot on your skills and how you present them. And from an expert perspective, there's really only one way to get so good with video games: constant practice.
Playing relentlessly doesn't only perfect your skill with one game, it helps you build a skill sey to handle others as well. Also, it is with practice that you can curate some special manoeuvres and tricks that could constitute a signature.
Compete (Play with others)
Ideally, the last step to perfecting your craft would be to test just how good you are, against formidable opposition. By now, you must have been around video gaming long enough to create a circle. Frequently, ensure to go up against human opponents, preferably ones with better skill or experience than yourself.
We keep emphasizing that you hone your gaming skills near perfection because it is an important factor to stand out if you want to earn good money playing games. Essentially, getting paid mostly requires an audience and maintaining an audience requires skill, lots of it.
Join a Gaming Community (Collaborate)
You may not have noticed, but only select pro gamers to succeed independently, creating a community of their own. At least for a start, you may have to join existing communities to find your way around eSports. The right communities will keep you updated on the best opportunities to generate revenue through video gaming.
Fun Fact: Aside from playing, gamers also generate income from coaching others, game testing and reviews, creating content and even designing games.
Streaming (Play on different platforms)
Stephanie “Missharvey" Harvey, former professional Counter-Strike player - "Female tournaments, at the moment, are the only initiative we have towards female gamers. Because of those events, we’ve seen female teams even being sponsored. Those are band-aids, in my opinion. They serve a purpose, but underneath the band-aid, the problem is still there."
Streaming in video gaming is where a lot of the "getting paid" happens. Looking over the past four years, video game streaming has only become more prominent by the year. This translates to a bigger consumer base and more sponsors, which means better chances.
Despite being insanely competitive, streaming your gameplay sessions is still one of the surest ways to get paid as a pro gamer. Notwithstanding, streaming is the easy bit, building an audience is the tricky part. You'd have to be skilled at media usage to gain followers in this field.
Here are the top streaming platforms with massive reach to get started as a streamer;
- YouTube Gaming
- Twitch
- TikTok
In all, join a streaming platform, schedule gaming sessions, execute them, promote your profile and start climbing the social ladder.
Compete in Tournaments, Join Leagues
Gaming tournaments and leagues are the backbone of eSports. Today, there are a whole lot of video game tournaments, at the novice and elite levels to explore. These competitions are sponsored by several media, merchandise and sports companies, creating an ecosystem.
Could sound fun and easy, but getting access to the top leagues and competitions that reward top dollar is quite the work.
This is where your gaming community becomes invaluable. With a robust infrastructure, you can, with time, secure a spot to compete in these competitions. We'd recommend playing on a team rather than solo, as it further improves your chances.
Get Sponsorships
Sponsorships are usually the by-product of skill and a potent media presence in the world of gaming. Here, companies, developers and individuals partner with you for promotions, a mutually beneficial relationship. Depending on the terms and your commercial value, you can make a lot of money via these partnerships.
Reinvest in equipment and yourself
The more successful you get with video gaming, the further the standard shifts. You'd have to stay up to date with the latest games and trends in the industry to constantly integrate and stay in vogue. In this light, reinvesting some money into acquiring more skills and gaming equipment is the least one can do to stay in the game.
Fun Fact: South Korea is considered the esports capital of the world, where professional gamers are treated like celebrities, with massive recognition, fanbases and sponsorships.