Do you have a passion for video games? Are you interested in getting paid to play one of your favorite games? If so, then you’d be the perfect fit to become a professional gamer.
While it’s the prized career of many video game fanatics, a lot more goes into it than people might imagine.
In fact, not many people know how to get started down the path of becoming a professional gamer.
See below for an in-depth guide on how to become a professional gamer and what it will take. Consider all the different steps below as you map out your career path!
1. Pick Your Game
For many gamers, this won’t be that hard of a decision. There’s always one or two games that you’re more heavily-interested in.
The trick is to find a game that has a registered Esport league. Even then, it can be difficult to break onto the scene of games that have had an Esport league for a while.
The good news is that, if you’re able to push your way through the crowd, it can result in you winning amazing prizes and tournaments.
If you’re looking for a way to become a professional gamer quicker, then you’ll want to find an up and coming game to dedicate yourself to.
As the game grows in popularity, you’ll become a well-established player within the realm of that game’s Esports phenomena.
If you’re having trouble deciding which Esports game to select, be sure to check out this list of the top Esports games.
2. Choose Your Console
It used to be that the Esports world was dominated by desktop games, but times are changing… and they’re changing fast.
Because of that, you (the gamer) have more flexibility to become a professional gamer on your desired console.
The tournaments of a certain gaming franchise (such as Super Smash Bros, Halo, etc.) are put on by the console for which they were made.
For example, since Super Smash Bros and Pokemon are both Nintendo franchises, their tournaments will be hosted by Nintendo.
3. Get Involved with the Game’s Community
Believe it or not, a professional gamer’s rise to fandom is as much about their personality as it is their skill in the game itself.
You need to consider whether the game’s community is a network that you can envision yourself thriving in. What goals do you have for your professional gaming career? Does that community help you achieve those goals?
Say your main goal is to make as much money from winning as possible. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!
However, you’ll want to make sure the community is strong enough to have prize money that’s worth your time. If the game is still up and coming, it could be a while before the prizes are reaching a substantial amount, if they ever do.
But if your goal is to become the number one player in the world, then choosing an up and coming game with a smaller community can help you make it to the top (and stay there).
4. Practice, Practice, Practice
To be honest, there’s no advantage to becoming a professional gamer in a game you’ve played for years and a game you just started playing yesterday.
The level of play for Esports games is so high, that you’ll need to spend a mass amount of time practicing and playing each day.
It takes time to understand every single intricate detail of the game and how you (as a competitive player) can use it to your advantage.
For example, using the spin move over and over won’t win you a lot of competitive Madden games. You’ll need to know every single juke move, spin move, and trucking move that exists in order to stand a chance against Madden’s best players.
When you’re not playing, you need to be watching and researching new strategies that you can try.
You can watch previous tournaments of the game that you play and try to imitate some of their strategies.
5. Start Streaming Your Play
Many different gamers use many different platforms to stream their game-playing and show off all of their skills. This is how you’ll grow a reputation as a professional gamer.
Some of the best streaming platforms for gamers are Youtube, Twitch.tv, and HitBox.
Not only will these platforms help you gain recognition in the gaming community, but it will also help you pay the bills! There’s plenty of money to be had from ad sharing and getting more subscribers.
6. Go to Gaming Events and Grow Your Network
Until you experience it in person, there’s no way to fully prepare yourself for a live Esports tournament.
Attending as many as you can will help you gain experience with playing in front of crowds and growing your network by meeting other players.
This can be especially helpful if you’ve chosen a game where you need to build or join a competitive team. As with any other career, it’s all about getting your name out to as many people as possible!
How to Become a Professional Gamer: Dedication and Consistency
The number one factor on how to become a professional gamer is committing yourself to the craft.
There’s a lot of sacrifice that comes along with it. But the award for winning a tournament will be worth it all. Simply dedicate yourself to becoming the best player at the game you’ve chosen.
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