10 steps to become a professional gamer
Since its humble beginnings in 2007, the Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) tournament has grown from a fringe event at a German technology fair to a global event held in sold-out stadiums and followed by 1 million fans online. Esports overall has seen a similar boom.
The International DOTA 2 Championship and the Intel® Extreme Masters Grand Finals, two major esports events, draw professional players from around the world for fame and high prizes. Blizzard * has now built a special arena in Los Angeles to host and stream the events of the Overwatch League. Some universities offer esports scholarships.
Game lovers probably have wondered how they can become professional gamers. There are options for your gaming career, no matter whether you want to compete solo or in a team.
A guide to a professional gaming career
Motivate yourself
When it comes to esports, the right reasons are important as with all things in life. The enthusiasm for competition, the desire to develop as a player, and the feeling of contributing to a team and a community are all good reasons to play.
Positive motivations keep players engaged in the long run. On the other hand, players who are only interested in money, fame, and quick success will often give up before they reach the pro level. If you get excited about the game, it makes a huge difference during daily training that gradually turns you into a pro.
Choose your game
The next step is to find your game. There are two schools of thought here - either choose a game that is becoming increasingly popular or take an established game.
Games that are already established as e-sports have the advantage of infrastructure and resources that are already available for professional gaming.
Titles that have been established as esports for a long time, such as League of Legends, Dota 2, and CounterStrike: Global Offensive ( CS: GO ), each have a large, dedicated community of players and thus sponsor lucrative tournaments. The disadvantage is that it is more difficult for newcomers to assert themselves.
In addition to exploring the game and optimizing tactics, as a game grows, players are able to practice different play styles that are quite unpredictable at first, which creates more opportunities to experiment. Esports stars such as Rocket League 2 and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds 3 have become prominent players in the industry. On the other hand, there is a risk that a game's competitive scene will not evolve and then you will have to choose a new game.
We advise you to try a few titles and stick with the one you really like. You will play it a lot.
Become part of the community
Even if professional gaming is very much about individual talent, the culture that surrounds the game is also important. Before spending too much time learning the details of any particular game, you should visit online forums and other sites where players meet.
This gives you a better idea of the path that lies ahead of you, and you can decide whether the development of a professional player corresponds to your personal goals and motivations.
Playing with other players is essential to advancing your career, so enjoy their company while immersing yourself in a game. On the one hand, the details of the optimal tactics are analyzed in forums and YouTube channels.
Players need to interact with each other to keep track of and in turn improve tactics as they evolve, so that they can make their contribution to the scene.
In addition, the community offers a strong motivation to get involved in a game in the long term.
Get more power
Make sure you have good gaming gear, such as a gaming mouse and mechanical keyboard. When it comes to peripherals, options are numerous - varying in size, form factor, and sensitivity - but you should choose what works best for you. For ideas, you should hear what esports professionals say about the gaming peripherals they use.
Every workout, every game should be played with the same mouse and keyboard, no matter what you use. Check out the pros today. When they exercise, they use the same devices they use on stage. Being familiar with your peripherals will make it easier to play in a tournament setting where nerve and pressure matter.
When it comes to hardware, consistency is also a factor.
Organizers of professional gaming events consciously select components that don't delay gameplay or cause it to run unevenly. This should also apply to the performance of your gaming laptop or gaming PC. To learn more about improving your gaming experience, be sure to read our guides on choosing a processor, gaming monitor, and data storage device.
Training
Matchmaking in-game and premium third-party services like ESEA make it easy for players to find opponents. To win, you must train.
First, you have to master the game mechanics. Concentrated on learning game-specific skills until you have integrated them into muscle memory, regardless of whether it is the last punch in a MOBA, precise aiming in a first-person shooter or the maximum number of actions per minute in a real-time strategy game is: These skills are always important.
Professional players tirelessly practice the mechanics to keep fit and make small improvements, but beginners should make significant progress through these exercises.
As you hone your skills, you should examine the overall strategy of the game. From the situation-based to the tactical method of gameplay, esports titles offer a range of different levels of strategy. A good place to start would be to understand your role in the situation at hand.
It can be difficult for beginners to coordinate the optimal tactics used by pros, such as the almost invincible GOATS strategy used in Season 1 of the Overwatch League.
Watching top players can still teach you a lot. Video and live streams are both great resources for learning good game practice and providing a reference point for your own tactics.
You can watch replays of your own matches later on to analyze your style of play and learn from your mistakes as you get better. Everyone does this.
Go up the ladder
In order to become a professional, you need to have the ambition to win at every stage of the competition. You'll want to dominate the leaderboard in pick-up groups, make it to the top of matchmaking, and finish last in tournaments.
As each esport has a unique system for bringing new players in, you should familiarize yourself with how the competition hierarchy works. Here are some examples. Typically, players start out at public games, then move to matchmaking, then leagues, and finally tournaments. The progression process will be different depending on the sport.
As a result of climbing the ladder, young players become better known. Taking part in amateur teams (or a subgroup for solo games) is a process that allows them to become a professional gaming organization.
Find a team
A team will be more likely to recognize you as a serious competitor once you have developed that reputation. Playing with others - especially people who are better than you or have different skills - is one of the most valuable experiences you can have as a player.
If you've gotten really good, the team is more likely to find you. Otherwise, you can take part in the trial training for teams. For example, the Team finds the website has forums and tools for teams and players to communicate with. Teams can recruit players on Discord servers, Reddit, and Steam groups as well.
In team-based games such as CS: GO and Dota 2, playing well with others is essential. Find a role that you enjoy and a group of players that you can relate to. You still need a community of like-minded people even if you are playing games like Hearthstone or StarCraft 2.
Take part in competitions to get noticed
Mastering the game is only half the way. The other half is building relationships and climbing the ladder of success. You should start expanding your network once you gain familiarity with more competitive lobbies. Build relationships with better players by using your position as an opponent.
It's these relationships with better players that can lead to more opportunities, such as being invited to private Discord chats where you can play exclusive training matches with elite players. Professional organizations sometimes discover players in these environments.
Stay in balance
While grinding is emphasized in esports, professionals need to learn to balance their daily training with offline activities. According to pro players we spoke to, a holistic exercise method - including good nutrition, fitness, and active social life - helps improve focus and prevent burnout syndrome.
Living a healthy lifestyle will help you stay motivated long enough to develop the skills that will ultimately draw professional organizations' attention to you.
Live like a pro
It takes years of labor and practice to become a professional gamer, but it's more than just constant grinding. A balanced training regimen is essential for the development of a player.
In addition, you will enhance your social skills, constantly improve your knowledge of the game, and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Following these principles will improve your performance in and out of the game.
The International DOTA 2 Championship and the Intel® Extreme Masters Grand Finals, two major esports events, draw professional players from around the world for fame and high prizes. Blizzard * has now built a special arena in Los Angeles to host and stream the events of the Overwatch League. Some universities offer esports scholarships.
Game lovers probably have wondered how they can become professional gamers. There are options for your gaming career, no matter whether you want to compete solo or in a team.
A guide to a professional gaming career
Motivate yourself
When it comes to esports, the right reasons are important as with all things in life. The enthusiasm for competition, the desire to develop as a player, and the feeling of contributing to a team and a community are all good reasons to play.
Positive motivations keep players engaged in the long run. On the other hand, players who are only interested in money, fame, and quick success will often give up before they reach the pro level. If you get excited about the game, it makes a huge difference during daily training that gradually turns you into a pro.
Choose your game
The next step is to find your game. There are two schools of thought here - either choose a game that is becoming increasingly popular or take an established game.
Games that are already established as e-sports have the advantage of infrastructure and resources that are already available for professional gaming.
Titles that have been established as esports for a long time, such as League of Legends, Dota 2, and CounterStrike: Global Offensive ( CS: GO ), each have a large, dedicated community of players and thus sponsor lucrative tournaments. The disadvantage is that it is more difficult for newcomers to assert themselves.
In addition to exploring the game and optimizing tactics, as a game grows, players are able to practice different play styles that are quite unpredictable at first, which creates more opportunities to experiment. Esports stars such as Rocket League 2 and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds 3 have become prominent players in the industry. On the other hand, there is a risk that a game's competitive scene will not evolve and then you will have to choose a new game.
We advise you to try a few titles and stick with the one you really like. You will play it a lot.
Become part of the community
Even if professional gaming is very much about individual talent, the culture that surrounds the game is also important. Before spending too much time learning the details of any particular game, you should visit online forums and other sites where players meet.
This gives you a better idea of the path that lies ahead of you, and you can decide whether the development of a professional player corresponds to your personal goals and motivations.
Playing with other players is essential to advancing your career, so enjoy their company while immersing yourself in a game. On the one hand, the details of the optimal tactics are analyzed in forums and YouTube channels.
Players need to interact with each other to keep track of and in turn improve tactics as they evolve, so that they can make their contribution to the scene.
In addition, the community offers a strong motivation to get involved in a game in the long term.
Get more power
Make sure you have good gaming gear, such as a gaming mouse and mechanical keyboard. When it comes to peripherals, options are numerous - varying in size, form factor, and sensitivity - but you should choose what works best for you. For ideas, you should hear what esports professionals say about the gaming peripherals they use.
Every workout, every game should be played with the same mouse and keyboard, no matter what you use. Check out the pros today. When they exercise, they use the same devices they use on stage. Being familiar with your peripherals will make it easier to play in a tournament setting where nerve and pressure matter.
When it comes to hardware, consistency is also a factor.
Organizers of professional gaming events consciously select components that don't delay gameplay or cause it to run unevenly. This should also apply to the performance of your gaming laptop or gaming PC. To learn more about improving your gaming experience, be sure to read our guides on choosing a processor, gaming monitor, and data storage device.
Training
Matchmaking in-game and premium third-party services like ESEA make it easy for players to find opponents. To win, you must train.
First, you have to master the game mechanics. Concentrated on learning game-specific skills until you have integrated them into muscle memory, regardless of whether it is the last punch in a MOBA, precise aiming in a first-person shooter or the maximum number of actions per minute in a real-time strategy game is: These skills are always important.
Professional players tirelessly practice the mechanics to keep fit and make small improvements, but beginners should make significant progress through these exercises.
As you hone your skills, you should examine the overall strategy of the game. From the situation-based to the tactical method of gameplay, esports titles offer a range of different levels of strategy. A good place to start would be to understand your role in the situation at hand.
It can be difficult for beginners to coordinate the optimal tactics used by pros, such as the almost invincible GOATS strategy used in Season 1 of the Overwatch League.
Watching top players can still teach you a lot. Video and live streams are both great resources for learning good game practice and providing a reference point for your own tactics.
You can watch replays of your own matches later on to analyze your style of play and learn from your mistakes as you get better. Everyone does this.
Go up the ladder
In order to become a professional, you need to have the ambition to win at every stage of the competition. You'll want to dominate the leaderboard in pick-up groups, make it to the top of matchmaking, and finish last in tournaments.
As each esport has a unique system for bringing new players in, you should familiarize yourself with how the competition hierarchy works. Here are some examples. Typically, players start out at public games, then move to matchmaking, then leagues, and finally tournaments. The progression process will be different depending on the sport.
As a result of climbing the ladder, young players become better known. Taking part in amateur teams (or a subgroup for solo games) is a process that allows them to become a professional gaming organization.
Find a team
A team will be more likely to recognize you as a serious competitor once you have developed that reputation. Playing with others - especially people who are better than you or have different skills - is one of the most valuable experiences you can have as a player.
If you've gotten really good, the team is more likely to find you. Otherwise, you can take part in the trial training for teams. For example, the Team finds the website has forums and tools for teams and players to communicate with. Teams can recruit players on Discord servers, Reddit, and Steam groups as well.
In team-based games such as CS: GO and Dota 2, playing well with others is essential. Find a role that you enjoy and a group of players that you can relate to. You still need a community of like-minded people even if you are playing games like Hearthstone or StarCraft 2.
Take part in competitions to get noticed
Mastering the game is only half the way. The other half is building relationships and climbing the ladder of success. You should start expanding your network once you gain familiarity with more competitive lobbies. Build relationships with better players by using your position as an opponent.
It's these relationships with better players that can lead to more opportunities, such as being invited to private Discord chats where you can play exclusive training matches with elite players. Professional organizations sometimes discover players in these environments.
Stay in balance
While grinding is emphasized in esports, professionals need to learn to balance their daily training with offline activities. According to pro players we spoke to, a holistic exercise method - including good nutrition, fitness, and active social life - helps improve focus and prevent burnout syndrome.
Living a healthy lifestyle will help you stay motivated long enough to develop the skills that will ultimately draw professional organizations' attention to you.
Live like a pro
It takes years of labor and practice to become a professional gamer, but it's more than just constant grinding. A balanced training regimen is essential for the development of a player.
In addition, you will enhance your social skills, constantly improve your knowledge of the game, and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Following these principles will improve your performance in and out of the game.