How to Become a Professional Esports Player

Imagine having the opportunity to play professional video games for a living. It's an exciting thought, but it's also one that most people would never entertain as a realistic goal in life. However, professional Esports players are now becoming more and more common due to the rising popularity of competitive video gaming.

What is Esports?

Esports is a form of competitive gaming where players from around the world compete in organized, multiplayer matches. These competitions can take many different forms, but most commonly they are video games played on PC or console platforms. The goal of Esports is to win tournaments and championships by defeating other teams or players. Prizes for these events can be quite diverse from a few hundred dollars to millions of dollars.

The roots of Esports can be traced back to the early days of competitive gaming, when people would gather in arcades to play games like Street Fighter or Pac-Man for money and bragging rights. As technology progressed, so did the way people played and watched video games. In the late 1990s, with the growth of internet access, online gaming was born.

The first Esports tournaments started popping up in 2000 with games like Quake III Arena and StarCraft becoming popular choices for gamers to compete. Since then the popularity of Esports has exploded into what it is now - a global phenomenon that’s seeing intense growth each year!

Some of the most popular videogames currently played in Esports competitions are:

• League of Legends
• Overwatch
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
• Valorant
• PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
• Fortnite

How to become a professional Esports player?

The professional Esports industry is booming. With more than $1.5 billion in revenue and 470 million viewers yearly. Prize pools are getting bigger and the industry is attracting more sponsors every day, it’s not surprising that so many people are trying to get in on the action. But what does it take to become professional?

If you're looking for an answer, in this guide, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about making it in the competitive gaming scene. So, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been competing for years, read on for tips and advice from some of the top players in the business.

Thanks to today's technologies anyone can become a professional Esports gamer.

The current generation of gamers is the most diverse in history. Nowadays videogames are 

accessible on every computer or console that has an internet connection which makes it easier than ever for people who love playing video games to be able to compete in online tournaments.

That being said, professional Esports players are not just game enthusiasts who want to be famous. They work hard at what they do and their passion is the key to success.

One has to have strong mental fortitude, be committed and always stay updated with the latest changes and updates in the game they are playing.

Choose your gaming platform: Console vs PC

The first step to becoming a professional Esports player is to choose your gaming platform. There are two types of gaming platforms: Console and PC. Console gamers play on systems such as PlayStation or Xbox, while PC gamers play on a computer. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to decide which one you want to specialize in before moving on!

After several years of playing on a specific platform and learning all the motor skills necessary to become good at multiple games, it becomes quite complicated to switch to a different platform since most of the skills learned on a console with a controller will not translate to mouse and keyboard on a PC and viceversa.

Choose the ideal game type for you:

There are four main genres of games in professional Esports: 

• Real time strategy (RTS)
• Fighting
• First person shooters (FPS)
• Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA)

Each one has its own unique set of skills that players must learn in order to compete at the top level.

Real time strategy (RTS) games are another genre that has been around for a long time. The best known RTS game is StarCraft II, but there are many other popular titles such as Age of Empires, and Warcraft, Command & Conquer. These games require players to have strategic thinking skills and good micromanagement abilities.

Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games are a relatively new genre that have exploded in popularity over the last few years. The best known moba game is League of Legends, but there are many other popular titles such as DOTA II and Heroes of the Storm. These games require quick reflexes and strategic thinking, making them some of the most difficult to play professionally.

Fighting games have been around for decades, with the most popular title being Street Fighter, Super Smash Bros, Tekken, Brawlhalla. These games test a player's ability to read their opponent and react quickly.

First person shooters are some of the most popular Esports games, with titles such as Valorant, Halo, Call of Duty, CS:GO, Rainbow Six Siege being among the most played. These games require players to have quick reflexes and good aim.

Time commitment: How many hours per day should I play?

The next step is to decide how much time you want to commit each day. Many professional Esports players dedicate 8-12 hours a day, but until you become a professional player is important to mantain a balance between playing and other aspects of your life like your school, work, social life, etc.

When you start playing you will probably spend a couple of hours per day but as you climb the ladder and you start playing against more skilled opponents, you will have to spend more time on the game to improve your skills.

The next step is deciding how many days you want to commit each week, people are normally inclined to play every day but is good to take at least 1 day off a week to completely reset and come back with a fresh mindset.

Purchasing the right gear:

Do I need to purchase expensive gear to be come an professional gamer? This is a question that many aspiring professional gamers ask themselves. The answer, however, is not so simple.

While expensive gear might not be necessary to become very good at a specific video game or even to compete at a high level, there is no doubt that spending some extra money for better equipment can make the experience more enjoyable and could even help you improve your skills faster.

If you are serious about becoming a professional gamer and can afford to spend some money then I would recommend purchasing a good mouse, keyboard, and monitor. These three pieces of equipment will make up the most important part of your gaming setup and they will affect your gameplay the most.

Mouse:

The mouse is one of the most essential tools that you will use when gaming. The mouse has a big impact on your gameplay and there are many different types of mice available, so it's crucial to pick out the perfect mouse for yourself depending on what game you're playing and how comfortable it feels.

The biggest decision you need to make when purchasing a mouse is deciding between a wired and wireless mouse.

In the past having a wired mouse was definitely the choice for pro-gamers due to the low latency and lack of input lag, but with the latest advances in wireless technology, this is no longer the case.

Wireless mice now have a very low latency and almost no input lag so it's up to personal preference whether you want to go for a wired or wireless mouse.

The weight is also important, specially for fast aiming or clicking games, having a light mouse will give you more control and faster response time. On the other hand, a heavy mouse will provide more stability on uneven surfaces.

Keyboard:

Your choice of keyboard can have an impact on your gameplay as well if it's causing you discomfort or reduces the speed at which you are able to play effectively. There are many different types of keyboards but there are 2 big categories: mechanical and membrane.

Mechanical keyboards are preferred by many gamers as they offer a tactile response and are more durable than membrane keyboards.

Monitor:

The size and type of monitor you decide to purchase is also an important factor when it comes to gaming. Most monitors these days are available in either 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratios with 16:9 being the most common aspect ratio used now for gaming.

Having a very high resolution is not as important for gaming as a high refresh rate. A good gaming monitor will have a refresh rate of at least 120Hz.

A high refresh rate is important because it means that the image on the screen is updated more often, which leads to a smoother gaming experience.

Prepare yourself mentally and physically:

One of the most important things to keep in mind when trying to become a professional gamer is that you need to take care of yourself both mentally and physically. This means eating healthy, getting enough exercise, and making sure that you are well-rested so that you can perform at your best.

There will be times in your journey that you might feel like your skill is getting worse, not better. This is completely normal, and it’s important to remember that you are always learning and improving no matter what.

Don’t give up because you feel like you are not improving – keep pushing yourself to be the best that you can be!

Everyone goes through periods where they might feel like they are out of the game or they feel burnt, if you ever get to this point is important to take a break for at least 1 week and come back with a fresh mind.

Finding the right teammates:

When competing in games which require the collaboration between multiple players it is

essential to find the right teammates. The compatibility between team members can be determined by how well they communicate, their sense of responsibility and personalities.

Here are some things that you should consider when choosing the right teammates:

Goals: You need to find players who have the same goals as you, and who are also willing to work hard to achieve those goals. If you try to compete with a team of players who don’t share your dedication or ambition, you will feel very frustrated and likely not be successful.

Trust: It’s also important to find teammates who you can trust. You need to be able to rely on them in both victory and defeat, and they need to be able to do the same for you. Building a strong team bond is essential for success in any esport.

Balance: You must have players in your team that complement each other. If you have a lot of aggressive players, for example, you need a player who can be the voice of reason and calm things down. Also is very helpful to decide who will be the IGL (In game leader) since there must be one person that can help the team act as one instead of several separate individuals.

Consistency: Finally, it’s important that your teammates are consistent in the way they play, since everyone needs to know their role in the team. If you have a player that is extremely talented but not able to play consistently, it will be extremely hard to win games at a high level of competition. So, take your time in finding the right team and don’t be afraid to switch things up until you find the perfect teammates for you.

Should professional Esports players also become streamers?

Many professional Esports players also stream on Twitch and YouTube in order to build a following and make additional income on top of tournament winnings

While streaming can be lucrative, it’s important to note that most professional Esports players put in a lot of hours practicing each day, so they may not have the time to commit to streaming as well.

The downsides of streaming are that it can be very time consuming, and you may not make as much money as you would if you were a professional Esports player.

That said, streaming can be a great way to build a community around yourself and your brand, which can help you get recognized and signed faster by a professional team.

Summary:

There are many factors that come into play when trying to become a professional Esports player. You need hard work and consistency. In order to do this for sure, one must be dedicated in their pursuit of becoming the best they can possibly be at something.

You also need teamwork because working with others is essential - especially if your goal is to get into the big leagues!

Health is important as well; don’t forget about yourself or let yourself go during these years where it seems like everyone else around you has goals but only yours matter.

And lastly, patience will help tremendously in achieving your dreams even though there might be bumps along the way (which every pro-player fears).

The destination may seem far away now but every day you spend improving is a step closer to that goal. It’s all worth it in the end when you finally become a professional Esports player.