By now, you already know that with persistence, luck, and training (among a host of other things!), gaming can be a lucrative career. On average, pro gamers can pocket around $60,000 a year. They can get sponsorships, sell merchandise, or close brand deals. Yes, gamers can be their brand too.
But like any other job, it requires investment. And since this is tech-related, it can be costly. How can a gamer make it without spending too much? Here a few tricks worth trying:
1. Start with Mobile Games
Usually, eSports revolves around PC games, but mobile games are also gaining a lot of traction. According to Statista, smartphone games comprised almost half of the global video gaming revenue. By 2023, worldwide sales may likely hit $100 billion as the penetration rates of both mobile devices and games increase.
Even better, starting a career as a mobile gamer can be feasible. Samsung Galaxy A50, for example, costs less than $200, and it already has a near-full-screen display.
Apple’s iPhone 11, meanwhile, is more expensive at almost $600, but it renders videos well, and players can choose their preferred storage capacity (although the most ideal is not less than 64GB). Plus, one can use the same phone for everyday mobile activities.
Currently, there are not many mobile eSports tournaments, but those that are already around can hand out huge prizes. The Epic Games Winter Royale in 2020 paid over $3 million, including to players who battled in Fortnite Mobile.
2. Buy Gaming PCs on Sale
The best route to becoming a professional gamer is to invest in desktop PCs. They are stable, more customizable, and more capable of better-quality video and sound graphics. They can handle fast-moving, real-time competitive games.
Moreover, professional gamers can pursue various ways to expand their learning and scope. For example, they can become streamers on social media, such as Facebook, Twitch, and YouTube. They can teach newbie gamers. They can train for bigger tournaments like League of Legends.
But as mentioned, quality PC games can cost a lot. For starters, aspiring gamers can buy a gaming PC. A Xidax X2, for instance, is around $650 only, and one can get this at installment, paying only $107 per month.
The X-5 unit is almost $2,000, but it’s already buildable with many mods or access for free or more affordable. Financing is also available.
3. Take Related Courses on Coursera
One of the greatest advantages of professional gaming is it is not particular on academic background or education. Anyone with a high school diploma can become one. However, learning the foundations can make a gamer more strategic. They can also consider other careers in the field.
This explains why a growing number of schools now offer gaming-related courses, but they can still be pricey. To save money, a potential gamer can consider enrolling in Coursera.
This website now runs eSports, taught by the University of California-Irvine, which provides students with an idea of building a team or an organization. The California Institute of the Arts, meanwhile, offers gaming design and concept. After the course, students can become independent builders and distributors of video games.
These courses are not free, but Coursera subscription is only $49 per month, but they can try their preferred lesson for seven days at no cost. The student can also take as many subjects as they like and receive professional certificates.
4. Monetize the Game on Twitch
Some professional gamers start their career with basic equipment from desktop PCs to mobile phones and web cameras. But they need to upgrade at some point to play more high-quality but tech-demanding video games.
In this case, they can consider monetizing their gameplay to raise funds. First, they can sign up on websites such as Twitch, a subscription-based video live-streaming platform. Users pay between $4.99 and $24.99, depending on their tier.
According to GoBankingRates, a gamer can become a Twitch affiliate once they reach at least eight streaming hours for a week and at least 50 followers. They can then receive about half of the subscription fee (according to the number of people subscribed to their channel). Treating this as a full-time job, therefore, may help someone earn at least $3,000 per month.
The platform also allows gamers to sell merchandise, digital or otherwise, and receive a portion of the ad sales of the website, which can add $250 per month for every 100 subscribers of the channel.
While some are lucky to rise into the industry fast, professional gaming, in general, requires hard work and investment. But for those who believe this is the best career for them, they can explore the options above to spend less. Either way, the spending is going to be worth it.
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