Professional gaming has become the go-to career for avid gamers. Many gamers now get paid to play their favorite games all day. Some have even quit their 9-5 jobs to invest their time and money in professional gaming. In 2020, consumer spending on gaming in the U.S. reached $11.6 billion in the second quarter. The U.S. video game hardware was $472 million as of October 2021. Looking to become a pro gamer? Play and get paid by following our tips.
Discover a Game
It’s easy to become a pro if you enjoy playing a game. You can spend the whole day practicing and playing without getting bored. You can decide to play an already established game or focus on a new game. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages.
For instance, established games have great infrastructure and resources for pro gamers but tend to be more competitive and hard to break into. On the other hand, a new game is more volatile but accommodates many different play styles. Unfortunately, a new game may fail to thrive in the competitive scene and force you to shift to a different game. The trick is to try out a few and stick with the best.
Invest in the Best Gear
If you want to earn good money as a pro gamer, you must be ready to invest. Get the best professional gear–gear that allows you to compete with other pros. Trying to become a professional gamer is like starting a small business, your tools of trade must be at par with those of the best in the industry. It’s the only way you’ll gain a competitive edge.
If you’ll be gaming on your PC, invest in a gaming mouse with a good grip and rapid-fire movements. Get a mechanical keyboard, a good monitor (with at least 1 millisecond response), and good speakers. Use the same equipment every time you practice.
Practice
To become a pro gamer, you must work hard and spend many hours every day practicing. It is a full-time career. You’ll have to master game mechanics and many specific skills if you want to compete with other professionals. Esports have multiple strategy layers you need to master. These include situational strategies like jungle pathing.
Research these game strategies and try to understand your role in each situation. Watch videos and live streams by pro gamers to learn valuable in-game habits you can apply as you practice. Also, review your past matches to see your mistakes and how you can improve.
Partner with a Brand
One of the few entertainment sectors that wasn’t affected by the pandemic was the gaming industry. In fact, most professional gamers got more viewers and revenue as people stayed home and entertained themselves through online platforms. For brands, this means there are plenty of marketing and product placement opportunities in gaming.
If you focus on racing games like Forza Horizon, you can partner with a company that wants to market used cars for sale and advertise its products. Most companies now know that the gaming industry is extremely profitable and has a lot of marketing potential. All you need to do is let brands know you’re open for partnerships. Gaming is so popular it’s expected to be worth $300 Billion by 2025.
