What does it take to become a professional gamer? With Esports prize pools growing into the tens of millions of dollars, the top esports players can now establish lucrative careers playing video games professionally.
Johan Sundstein, also known by his gamer tag N0tail, had pulled in nearly $7 million in career earnings as of March 2021. Jesse Vainikka, AKA JerAx, had earned nearly $6.5 million. Several other players reported seven figure career earnings.
Any gamer looking to break into the professional ranks will have their work cut out for them. Intel recommends that players first find their motivation and then pick their game. If you want to beat the best players, plan to spend long hours training, with much of your gaming focused on one specific game. You might choose an up-and-coming game, or established giants such as CounterStrike: Global Offensive or League of Legends.
Esports is growing rapidly, so there may be opportunities for those with the dedication and skill to succeed. In 2019, there were 21.1 million U.S. Esports viewers. By 2021, viewers had reached 26.6 million, and by 2023, there will be a projected 31.4 million. Viewer growth should increase sponsorships, prize pools and other important metrics.
Not every gamer will become a pro. Still, neither gamers nor parents of young gamers should fret. A Yale University review of medical studies found that passive screen time — say, watching TV — is associated with negative health outcomes. Videogames are anything but passive, however. Researchers in Australia found that active screen time can improve academic performance and may even motivate kids to be more physically active.