To become a master of your chosen game requires dedication and time. Hobby gamers will know how quickly time flies when you're spending an evening after work in front of your screen. To become a professional player, you will need to spend more time. what a shame! we hear you cry). Being a master in one genre will make it much easier. Also, consider the genre that you have spent the majority of your gaming time on. For example, if you've played a lot of CS:GO, you'll have an advantage if you decide you want to build a career as a pro gamer by playing Call of Duty, since similar skills are needed.
You can optimize your game by researching strategies and techniquesIt's a great idea to improve your game, from novice to expert, by always looking for new strategies and techniques that will optimize your game. There's tons of guides and tutorials online for tips on specific games. Even the smallest of things can give you an edge in competitive gaming. For example, knowing how to beat different champions in LOL or CS:GO's rifle spray patterns. You can read interviews and other content from esports elite players and share your ideas with your network (more details later).
Watch Streamers and Professional Competitions
The advent of streaming allows amateur gamers to see the pros in action and get close to the action. This is a great way to learn important tips and tricks that will help you master your game, and get on your way towards becoming a professional gamer. You can't have one vision of the game in your quest to be the best. Esports pros often use 'out-of-the-box' strategies to beat their opponents and win. These techniques can be mental, such as a strategy that you never thought of, or physical, like quick wrist movements or finger movements, that give them the competitive edge. You can learn the meta of the game by watching pro streamers and competing in live events.
Get to know other gamers
Yes it's corny, but as with most ways to make a living, you gotta network. But put all thoughts of networking at stuffy corporate conferences out of your mind - if you love gaming so much you want to become a pro, it's going to be much more fun engaging with others who share your passion. It's crucial to find the right gaming communities and meet other gamers to practice with. Not only will you get real-life gaming experience, which is essential to become a pro gamer, but you'll also learn from other gamers. A solid gaming network will keep you motivated. This is especially important for those who are devoted to learning their game and working towards being a professional esports player.
Invest in the Best Gear
If you are looking to be a professional gamer, you will need to improve your strategy skills. If your gear doesn't match up, you're never going to have the competitive edge over your opponents. Your gear should be considered your teammate. You need to work together to achieve the best results. A mouse with the highest precision is essential for gaming on PC. It can perform rapid movements and provide pinpoint accuracy. Always choose a mouse that fits your grip style so you'll feel comfortable after hours and hours of gameplay, and enables you to make quick-fire movements when you need to. SteelSeries offers a range of professional grade and multi-award winning gaming mice. Some of the features of the Rival range by SteelSeries include the world's first true 1 to 1 tracking for pinpoint precision and state-of-the-art lift off detection system, due to TrueMove optical sensors that are world class and approved by pro gamers. The movements are extremely precise with zero acceleration or lag and virtually no tracking errors. If your gear isn't able to keep up with you, it's not worth practicing hour after hour. You also run the risk of getting tracked lags. The SteelSeries Rival 650 Wireless is the most precise wireless mouse on the market - so you don't need to let a wire get in your way. It features Quantum Wireless(tm) 1ms lossless performance and the most precise gaming sensor ever made.
Your monitor is also a super important part of your gaming setup. Your gaming gear must work together to keep up with your game and be at your best. Ideally your monitor should be a 144Hz monitor with a 1 millisecond response time for the best experience. Your PC itself also should be top spec so it can handle any game without lag or stuttering.
Whether your preferred platform is PC or console, being immersed in the sounds of your game is a key way to play like a pro. Particularly if you're playing a game like CS:GO or Call of Duty, you need to have a 360 degrees soundscape and be able to hear every little sound - these sounds are your audio clues as to where your enemies may be approaching from. SteelSeries' Arctis gaming headsets are tournament-grade and have all the specifications that you need to be a pro gamer. Each Arctis is equipped with hi-res audio drivers that allow you to hear every sound clearly. SteelSeries Arctis Pro can reproduce high-res audio at 40,000 Hz. This is almost twice the rate of standard headsets. It's important to buy gaming gear. The headsets in the Arctis range also feature ClearCast mics, which pick up your voice with absolute crystal clear precision and they deliver studio-quality voice clarity. This is super important if you pick a game to become pro in that's team based - your teammates need to be able to hear you loud and clear. ClearCast microphones can cancel out background noise so that your teammates can understand your instructions without being distracted. SteelSeries headsets are loved by esports professionals and can be used on both PC and console.
3. Join a Team and Go Pro
Joining a team is the next step on your path to becoming a professional player and aspiring to esports stardom. But you'll have to already be absolutely nailing your game and have built up a solid reputation in the esports community - which is why networking is so important early on. You could also try reaching out to teams and other esports enthusiasts via online forums. By building a sound reputation within your gaming community, you might even be approached by a team and asked to join - but this privilege really is reserved for the best of the best - which is why step 2 of how to become a professional gamer is crucial.
Play in Gaming Leagues and Competitions
Once you're on your way to mastery of your game, there's plenty of tournaments and competitions happening year-round to get involved in, either as part of a team or as an individual player. You can start with online leagues like MLG, ESL, and ESEA. Keep an eye out for local competitions in esports. Keep winning and working hard to become a professional player. This is where your status as an elite pro esports player is established. It's also the place you can make a career and earn big bucks.
Compete in Tournaments
The key difference between an esports league and a tournament, just with other more traditional sports, malding definition is that a league is generally played over a longer period of time, and players gain or lose points or rank in each game played with the goal of working their way to the top of the league. Esports tournaments are played in a shorter time span and are more of a last-man standing competition. Once you lose, you're out. This type of competition is more suited to certain games, like Fortnite and Counter Strike. You can start by participating in smaller tournaments online. Once you have smashed those and built up your reputation, you can join the big guns at tournaments like the League of Legends World Championships or Intel Extreme Masters. The next step is to compete in live events - there's always something going on around the world that you can get involved in at this level. You can expect thousands of fans to attend a venue to see you play, and you will have the chance to earn those huge pay cheques that you have been dreaming about. But you must be there to win it.
The final step in becoming fully pro is to get a sponsorship
While it is safe to say winning live events will bring you a huge check, it is not a guarantee that you will make a regular income. This is the answer. Sign up for a sponsorship deal. Big brands in the esports industry will pay you to use their gear and wear their merch when you're competing, particularly in live events. They get to promote their brand and are associated with top esports professionals around the globe.
Are You Still a Pro Gamer?
Although it sounds easy, this guide will show you how to become professional gaming professionals in just a few steps. However, it is not easy to break into the industry or make a living out of it. It's possible for only the best players to make it. It's possible, but not impossible. Many have made their dream of playing full-time a reality through hard work, dedication and endless practice in the bank. See you on the battlefield.