Are you interested in esports? Are you thinking about making this a possible career choice? If the answer to these two questions is yes then continue reading through this article to find how you can turn this dream into a reality.
Esports are competitive video games played for entertainment purposes. They are also known as e-sports, electronic sports or just gaming.
The term “esports” was first used by Blizzard Entertainment to describe their Warcraft III mod, which became popular among gamers and non-gamers alike. It has since become one of the most popular forms of entertainment today.
The popularity of esports has grown tremendously over the past few years with more than 1 billion people watching online competitions every year.
This number will only increase as more people start playing games like Fortnite and League of Legends. There are currently more than 100 million players worldwide who play these games on a regular basis.
In addition to being entertaining, esports are also very lucrative. According to Forbes, the total revenue generated from esports tournaments around the world reached $1.8 billion last year alone.
So if you want to work in a field where your job is not limited to sitting behind a desk all day but instead involves competing against other gamers in front of thousands of fans, then esports might be a good fit for you.
Is Becoming An Esports Athlete A Good Career Choice?
Not just anyone can become an esports athlete for it takes plenty of skill, dedication and teamwork.
Whilst anyone is able to play games from the comfort of their home, these athletes are able to play competitive games at an advanced level, good enough for them to make a career out of it.
But is it a good career choice? To find the answer, it is necessary to look at everything that comes with the career.
Salary
When deciding on any career, one thing that people want to know is how much they will be earning. The one thing which attracts people to being an esports athlete is the large sum of money they earn from it.
Professional esports athletes can earn a salary of anywhere between $50,000 – $60,000 per year (up to $5000 a month). As well as this, the tournament prize money is $50,000 and they will earn money from streaming ($1,500-$2,000).
Training
Becoming an esports athlete takes a lot of hard work just like it would any sport. You have to train long hours to become a pro basketball player the same as you would to be a competitive swimmer.
Pro gaming is exactly the same and this is something which should be taken seriously.
If you want to have a career as an esports athlete then you need to be dedicated to training continuously and putting in the long and strenuous hours to make it to the top.
Time Consumption
With training comes time. If you are considering a career as an esports athlete then it is important to realize that it will consume a lot of time.
This isn’t only from the constant training but with traveling the world to compete and the long days of competition.
Being a competing pro gamer is not relaxing and is completely different from gaming at home. It is actually very stressful as the aim is to win.
Alternative Esports Career Options
When it comes to making a living through esports, being a gamer is not the only role. There are many different types of careers available in esports. Some of the most common include:
Game Developers
Developing games is a huge part of esports. As mentioned earlier, more than 100 million people play games on a daily basis. So imagine having access to a whole community of potential customers.
If you don’t already have experience creating games, this could be a perfect opportunity for you to learn how to create your own game.
Gamemasters
A gamemaster is responsible for managing and organizing esports events. They ensure that everything runs smoothly and they keep track of all the scores and statistics.
Most often, they are hired by tournament organizers. However, some organizations hire full-time gamemasters while others prefer freelancers.
Tournament Managers
Tournament managers organize and manage various esports tournaments. They are usually employed by large companies such as Valve Corporation (the company that owns Steam) or Riot Games.
These individuals are responsible for running events such as the World Championship Series (WCS), League of Legends European Championship (LEC) and the Overwatch League.
Content Creators
Content creators are responsible for creating content for esports websites. They write articles, videos and even podcasts related to esports. Many content creators also stream themselves playing games live on Twitch.
Analysts
Analysts are responsible for analyzing data collected during esports matches. They use statistical tools to analyze player performance and predict future results.
For example, analysts can look at a player’s win rate and determine whether he or she is likely to win a match based on his or her skill level.
Is It Hard To Become An Esports Athlete?
Becoming an esports athlete requires dedication and commitment. The first step towards becoming one is to choose the right path for yourself.
You must understand what kind of person you are and if you are willing to dedicate enough time and effort into achieving success.
The esports industry is growing at a rapid pace and with it comes the opportunity to make money in this new field of entertainment.
However, it is very hard to get into this industry. Not only do you first have to prove your worth but you have to dedicate years and years to showing your skills.
A great way to start is to set up a Twitch account in which you can showcase your skills. You can then grow to compete in small local gaming competitions. It is all about making a name for yourself. Only then is it possible to go into the field and win big.
Final Thoughts
Although it takes a lot of work, becoming an esports athlete is a good career choice if you understand what it takes. In order to be successful, it is important to take baby steps and train yourself.
Once you have mastered your skills, you can then try competing in the big leagues.
My name is Ashley Newby and I want to put integrity back into esports and get the hype surrounding them paramount once more. During my teenage years, I happened to stumble across a Street Fighter tournament online and I was hooked.
From that day, I have kept up with and watched many tournaments including Valorant, Super Smash Bros, and League of Legends. I even got to compete in my first one earlier this year!
