To become a master of your chosen game requires dedication and time. Hobby gamers will be able to see how fast time passes when they spend an evening in front of their screen after work. So to become a professional gamer, you'll need to put even more time in (oh no! 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. If you have played a lot of CSGO, it will be an advantage if your goal is to become a professional gamer.
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. You can find a lot of tutorials and guides online that will give you tips for 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 Professional Competitions and Streamers
The rise of streaming has allowed the average amateur gamer to get up close to the action, and see in real time how the pros play. 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. Those techniques could be more mental things such as a strategy you might never have thought of, or something more physical like a quick wrist or finger movement, or seeing how their gear is set up and configured, that allows them to have the competitive edge. Watching pro streamers and live competitions will help you discover what the meta of the game is.
Get to know other gamers
Yes it's corny, but as with most ways to make a living, you gotta network. You don't have to think about networking at corporate conferences if you are passionate about gaming. It will be more enjoyable to connect with other gamers 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
Honing your strategy skills will only get you so far if you want to become a professional gamer. 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. You should choose a mouse that suits your hand so you feel secure after long hours of gaming. It will also allow you to perform quick movements when needed. SteelSeries has a variety of gaming mice that are professional-grade and have won multiple awards. The Rival range from SteelSeries features the first true 1-1 tracking system for pinpoint precision, and a state-of the-art liftoff detection system. This is due malding definition to TrueMove optical sensor that is world-class and approved by professional gamers. All movements are incredibly accurate, with no acceleration, no lag, and absolutely no chance of tracking errors. There's no point in practising hour after hour if your gear can't keep up with you and you're at risk of tracking lags. SteelSeries Rival 650 Wireless wireless mouse is the most precise on the market. The Quantum Wireless(tm), 1ms lossless performance, and the most precise gaming sensor have been added to this mouse.
The monitor is an essential part of any gaming setup. Your gaming gear must work together to keep up with your game and be at your best. For the best gaming experience, your monitor should have a resolution of 144Hz and a response time of 1 millisecond. The best specs for your PC are essential to ensure that it is capable of handling any game without lag and 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 mics expertly cancel background noise too, so your teammates can hear your instructions without any without distractions. Many of the SteelSeries gaming headsets loved by esports pros are compatible with PC and console, so you can get the best gear on the market no matter what platform you pick.
3. Join a Team and Go Pro
The next step in your journey to become a professional gamer and leaping towards esports stardom is to join a team. 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. Online forums are another way to reach out to other esports enthusiasts and teams. 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
After you have mastered your game, there are many tournaments and competitions that you can participate in as a player or part of a team. You can start with online leagues like MLG, ESL, and ESEA. Keep an eye out for local competitions in esports. Rack up those wins and keep your dedication to becoming a professional gamer with the end goal in mind - to be awesome enough at your game to enter pro level competitions and leagues. 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.
Participate in tournaments
An esports tournament is played over a shorter time frame. Players gain or lose points and rank in every game with the aim of moving up the ranks. An esports tournament is usually played over a much shorter time frame, and as a rule is 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. Next, you will want to participate in live events. There is always something happening around the globe that you can take part in at this level. Thousands of esports fans turn up to a venue to watch you play - and this is where you'll have a chance at earning those big pay cheques you're probably dreaming about - but you gotta be in it to win it.
The final step in becoming fully pro is to get a sponsorship
It's safe to say that winning live events will earn you a hella big cheque, but it's not a guaranteed way of earning a steady income. The answer to this? Get yourself a sponsorship deal. Sponsorship deals are offered by big brands in the esports world. You can use their gear when you compete, especially in live events. That way they get their name out there and they get to be associated with the best esports pros in the world.
Are You Still a Pro Gamer?
Ok, we've made it sound kinda easy in this guide on how to become a professional gamer in just several 'easy' steps - but in reality it can be hard to break into the industry and to really make a career 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.