How to Become a Pro Gamer: A Step-By-Step Guide
Imagine you no longer had to wake up at 5:00 a.m., put on dress clothes, struggle through traffic, and then sit in a cubicle for hours while getting harassed by your boss. Surely, there has to be another option that doesn’t involve going broke and selling one of your kidneys for rent money.
As it turns out, pro gaming could be the answer.
Have you ever wondered how to become a pro gamer? It isn’t easy to become a professional gamer, but by doing so you can make a living and even get rich! Keep reading for our step-by-step guide to making the pros.
Decide on A Game
Jack of all trades, master of none. The old adage can be accurately applied to the world of pro gaming.
With very few exceptions, you aren’t going to become a professional gamer in multiple games, especially if they are from different genres. You need to decide early on if you are going to focus on shooters, such as Counter-Strike and Fortnite, or something else.
DOTA 2 and League of Legends are hugely popular MOBA games. Rocket League is a ‘vehicular soccer’ game that, despite being somewhat lesser-known, still makes up for over 10% of the eSports market. Pick a lane and stick with it.
The Platform Wars
PC is easily the most popular and competitive platform for pro gaming. However, there are plenty of professional console players.
Some games are almost exclusively played on consoles, such as fighting games.
Nintendo has often lagged behind in online play but is working on changing that. Super Smash Bros is a very popular pro game, and Nintendo is looking to add to their competitive gaming repertoire.
Hone Your Skills
Okay, so you’ve decided you want to learn how to become a professional gamer. But it’s going to take a lot of more than good intentions to get paid for it.
How to Get Good
It takes hundreds of hours of practice to become competitive in a given game. We’re talking about real practice. Drinking beers and hanging out with friends while passing the controllers around is NOT how you get good.
Do a little research. Study the game in question and learn the techniques. Watch the pros and never stop practicing.
Just like anything, you need to put in the hours to get good.
Find a Team
Now that you’ve honed your skills, it’s time to find some teammates.
It would be great to have your best friend from high school as a mate but let’s face it, they kind of suck. Many e-Sports are, in fact, team sports. Having professional teammates is crucial when facing tough competition.
Of course, this doesn’t apply to solo eSports, such as StarCraft II and fighting games.
Your First Tourneys
Once you’ve got a good team going (if applicable), it’s time for some real competition.
You can search for tournaments online or by browsing the forums of your favorite games. Here is a list of websites to find online tournaments.
Don’t get discouraged if you get smacked around the first couple of times. Learn from your opponents and your mistakes.
Build a Following and Cash Out
Many of the best-paid gamers aren’t even the most skilled. If you’ve got the charisma, you can endear yourself to gaming fans around the world.
Twitch is a great platform for streaming. Start growing your social networks by using this Instagram stories maker for personalized highlights and posts.
Fame equals sponsorships. Sponsorships equal getting paid.
How to Become a Pro Gamer
Learning how to become a pro gamer is a long and difficult path. But the rewards for making it are life-changing. Do you have the dedication and the skill to go pro? Check out our blog for more tech and lifestyle articles.
