Everyone loves games in one form or another. People have been playing games for thousands of years. However, it is a relatively recent notion that you can make lots of money just by playing a particular type of game, namely video games.
What does it mean to be a pro-gamer?
It is difficult to define the term “pro-gamer”, because in the gaming world there are no standards to describe who can be considered a pro. However, everyone should agree that a professional gamer is someone who earns all or a significant portion of his or her income by playing games. So, gaming is what pro-gamers do to make a living.
In most cases, a pro-gamer is someone who participates in professional events such as The International, ESL tournaments, or the WoW World Championship, either alone or as part of a team, depending on the specifics of the game. Participants usually play as a team or represent an organization, such as Evil Geniuses or NaVi.
However, to become a gamer & earn money, you don’t necessarily have to participate in all of these events. Yep, in the early days, only those players who participated in tournaments and won money there, were considered professional gamers. These days, thanks to the widespread internet availability and the rise of the gaming scene, people can make money in the industry even without world-class qualifications.
What does a pro-gamer do?
Alongside playing games, a professional gamer usually participates in tournaments and/or is present in the media space doing reviews or advertising. With that said, being a professional gamer means:
- Participating in cyber sports tournaments;
- Streaming games on Twitch and YouTube;
- Doing game reviews on social networks and streaming platforms;
- Promoting gaming products, software and hardware;
- Having sponsorship contracts with major brands within and outside of the gaming industry;
- Doing collaborations with game developers;
- Coaching other players (that’s where pro-gamers also earn money, working for companies that deliver boosting and coaching services like WOWHUNT & others).
How much does a pro-gamer earn?
So, now you know that gaming can be more than just a hobby, and a gamer is not a slacker at all. And now you are wondering how to become a professional gamer, but first let’s see what exactly you can earn from being a pro-gamer.
Top professional players make millions of dollars every year. However, these gamers are the elite of the gaming world. Average gamers don’t make as much money from the games.
An average professional gamer who makes money as part of a team can make between $1,000 and $5,000 a month. That’s a basic salary. Winning teams share all the additional prize money also.
Thus, earning more than your base salary at games can be more than that if you’re a successful player. But as we know, some win and some lose. You may not make the world’s biggest income.
However, even at the lowest levels, earning more than $60,000 yearly from playing games for a professional can be quite possible.
How does one become a pro-gamer?
Once we’ve discussed the nuances of professional gaming, only one question remains unanswered: how do you become a professional gamer?
It’s a question that newbies crave a simple answer to, but unfortunately, there is no shortcut to the top. The good news is that there are many ways to reach your goal available.
As we’ve said before, a gamer can do many different things. Jobs for gamers are very varied. You can become a member of a team that participates in professional cyber sports competitions. Or you can become an internet celebrity and play games to entertain viewers.
Once you are successful in cybersports, it is easier to become a showman. However, you don’t have to win professional cybersports tournaments to become an online star.
If you love gaming, you have something to say, and you’ve found your niche, you can gather enough subscribers to make money in this industry. It’s probably easier than trying to become a world-class athlete. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Nevertheless, of the alternatives offered, this path is the least time consuming.
To become a professional gamer, you need to take the following steps toward your goal:
Choose your niche
Everyone has a favorite game. Some like first-person shooters, and some like real-time strategy. Find the genre that you are most passionate about or that you have a natural talent for.
Choose the best platform for you
Once you’ve chosen the perfect game for you, you have to choose the perfect platform. Maybe you’re a future PC gamer. Maybe you’re an Xbox hero.
Play, practice, play some more
There’s no substitute for hard work. Gaming is fun, but when you go pro it’s also a job that needs lots of mastery. Many of the top gamers spend lots of hours daily practicing. In addition to playing, you need to analyze game sessions, use simulators to test strategies, and finally put your skills into practice.
Show what you can do!
The last step on your way to a career as a professional gamer is to win something important. Try to participate in every tournament possible. Start at the amateur level, earn some wins and move on. The more wins you have, the better your reputation will be.
It’s hard to overlook a winner, and if you can present yourself as a top player, teams and sponsors will notice you. And don’t forget to have fun!
Who is the world’s #1 gamer today?
Due to the volatility of the online gaming scene, it is unclear what criteria should be used to select the world’s best professional gamers. Number of wins? Earned money? Prizes won?
Among the top players of 2021 is Johan “N0tail” Sundstein (he has also got into Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list in 2019), who won $7 million in prizes. Does that mean he’s the best gamer in the world? Well, maybe. However, there are many other fantastic, exceptionally skilled players, like Tyson “Tenz” Ngo, Kyle “Bugha” Girsdorf and Lee “Faker” Sang Hyuk.
