How to Be a Professional Gamer: Your Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
Are you wondering how to be a professional gamer? You’re not alone. With the rise of eSports and competitive gaming, many are drawn to this exciting career path.
In this blog post, we’ll take you through the steps to transform your gaming passion into a profession. You’ll learn:
- What is a professional gamer?
- How much do professional gamers make?
- What skills do you need to become a professional gamer?
- How to become a pro gamer?
- How to start and grow a streaming channel?
So, whether you’re a casual player or an aspiring pro, this guide is your ticket to the big leagues. Let’s dive in and start your journey to becoming a professional gamer.
What’s Professional Gaming & How Lucrative Is It?
Before we get into becoming a professional gamer, let’s clarify what being a professional gamer means. A professional gamer is someone who earns their primary income from gaming. They compete in tournaments, often sponsored by major gaming companies, and are known for their exceptional gaming skills and strategies.
But is being a gamer a good career? The answer largely depends on your passion for gaming and your willingness to put in the required time and effort. The potential income can be substantial, with top professional gamers earning six-figure yearly salaries from tournament winnings, sponsorships, and endorsements. According to Comparably, the average US-based professional gamer makes $64,168.
But don’t confuse a professional gamer with a streamer. While both can earn money from gaming, a streamer primarily earns income from creating entertaining content and building a community on platforms like Twitch or YouTube. They don’t necessarily compete at a professional level but can still make a good living from their gaming skills, personality, and fan base.
What Skills & Traits Do Professional Gamers Have?
Becoming a professional gamer requires more than just a love for video games. It involves honing a specific set of video game skills and developing the right mindset.
Here are some essential gaming skills and traits you’ll need:
- Hand-Eye Coordination: This essential skill enhances your performance in any game, improving precision and accuracy.
- Calculated Risk-Taking: To outmaneuver opponents, pro gamers must strategically make decisions under pressure.
- Perseverance and Patience: To master a game, one must commit time, effort, and learn from past mistakes.
- Innovative Problem-Solving: Gaming presents intricate challenges requiring quick wit and original solutions.
- Strategic Planning: Anticipating an opponent’s moves and planning your actions accordingly is a key success factor in gaming.
- Deep Concentration: High-level gaming requires intense focus, necessitating gamers to block out distractions and perform at their peak.
- Leadership: Especially for team-based games, coordinating team members, developing strategies, and motivating the team are important skills.
- Effective Communication: For multiplayer games, teamwork and graceful interactions with opponents are fundamental.
- Analytical Decision-Making: High-pressure gaming situations call for quick, smart decisions based on rapid information analysis.
- Pattern Recognition: Identifying patterns and predicting outcomes can provide a significant edge in many games.
- Agile Multi-Tasking: Gaming often demands effective resource management and quick response to changing situations.
- Lightning-Fast Reflexes: A crucial skill that allows gamers to act and react promptly in any given situation.
6 Steps to Becoming a Pro Gamer
Becoming a professional gamer is a journey, not a sprint. It requires dedication, hard work, and a strategic approach. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate this exciting path:
Step 1: Mastering Your Chosen Game
Your first step is to become an expert at your chosen game. This means understanding the game mechanics, mastering the controls, and learning strategies. Choose a game you’re passionate about and willing to dedicate significant time and effort to mastering.
For reference, these are the most popular esports games in 2023:
- League of Legends
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- Valorant
- Dota 2
- Apex Legends
Spend countless hours practicing, studying gameplays of top players, and constantly pushing to improve your skills. Remember, even the best gamers never stop learning and improving.
Step 2: Joining Gaming Communities & Networking
Aside from continuously improving your skills, you should also connect with others who share your passion. Join online gaming communities, participate in forums, and engage in social media groups related to your game.
Networking with other gamers can provide valuable insights, help you learn new strategies, and even lead to opportunities to join teams.
Step 3: Participating in Novice Gaming Events
Start testing your skills in a competitive setting by participating in events for rookie gamers. These can be online tournaments or local eSports competitions.
These events will give you a taste of competitive gaming and help you understand where you stand compared to other players.
Step 4: Joining a Team
Once you’ve gained some experience and confidence, consider joining or forming a team. Many eSports games are team-based, and being part of a team can provide valuable experience. You’ll learn how to coordinate with other players, develop team strategies, and handle the pressures of competitive gaming.
Plus, being part of a team can open doors to larger tournaments you might not be able to enter as an individual player.
Step 5: Competing in Leagues & Tournaments
Now that you’re part of a team, it’s time to take on bigger challenges. Start competing in larger leagues and tournaments. This will not only put your skills to the test but also give you a taste of the professional gaming scene.
Don’t forget though, it’s not just about winning. It’s about gaining experience, learning from losses, and continuously improving.
Step 6: Seeking Sponsorships
As you start making a name for yourself in the gaming community, you can begin seeking sponsorships. Sponsors can provide financial support, gaming gear, and other resources. They can also help you gain more visibility in the gaming community.
When seeking sponsorships, present yourself professionally. Show potential sponsors that you’re serious about gaming and that you have a growing fan base.
The Role of Streaming in Professional Gaming
Streaming plays a significant role in the world of professional gaming. It’s not just about playing games anymore; it’s also about sharing your gaming experiences with a wider audience.
Streaming your gameplay on platforms like Twitch or YouTube can dramatically increase your visibility in the gaming community. It allows you to showcase your skills, interact with fans, and build a personal brand. As your following grows, streaming can also become a significant source of income. Streamers can earn money through ad revenue, subscriptions, donations, and sponsorships.
8 Tips on How to Start & Grow a Streaming Channel
Starting a streaming channel might seem daunting, but with the right approach, you can successfully grow your channel. Here are some tips:
- Choose the Right Platform: Identify where your potential audience spends time. Popular choices include Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming.
- Maintain a Regular Schedule: Consistency is crucial in streaming. Establish a predictable streaming schedule that your viewers can rely on.
- Engage with Your Audience: Actively interact with your viewers during streams. Respond to their comments, acknowledge their presence, thank them frequently, and foster a welcoming community.
- Deliver Quality Content: Prioritize video and audio quality. Aim to make your streams engaging and entertaining. Remember, viewers come for the game but stay for the streamer.
- Conduct Giveaways: These are effective ways to engage viewers and grow your community.
- Collaborate with Other Streamers: Networking and collaboration can help broaden your reach and attract new viewers.
- Promote Your Stream: Use social media platforms to advertise your streams. Networking with other streamers can also introduce you to a wider audience.
- Be Patient: Growing a streaming channel takes time. If growth seems slow, don’t get disheartened. Keep improving your content and stay consistent.
You’re Ready to Be a Professional Gamer
Embarking on the journey to become a professional gamer is demanding, yet exciting. It’s a path filled with thrilling victories, learning experiences, and opportunities to connect with a community that shares your passion. Every pro gamer started where you are now – with a love for gaming and a dream.
However, becoming a professional gamer requires dedication, hard work, and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement. There will be challenges along the way, but with perseverance, and the right mindset, you can turn your dream into reality.
And finally, a smooth gaming experience starts with a reliable internet connection. So, if you’re looking for an internet service provider that understands gamers’ needs, look no further. Race Communications is here to provide you with the fast, stable connection you need to game at your best.
Gear up, get gaming, and start your journey to becoming a professional gamer. The eSports world is waiting for you!
