BUILDING A CAREER IN ESPORTS

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Esports is one of the fastest-growing and most prominent forms of entertainment across all ages, backgrounds, or fields of experience. While online gaming serves primarily to entertain, esports focuses on competitive video gaming which allows for more opportunities for professional growth and development.

Nielsen has reported that in 2021, 55% of U.S. consumers played video games. Additionally, 71% of millennial gamers reported watching gaming video content in late 2020, generating more than $9 billion in revenue.

Competing in professional tournaments and winning prize money is the more obvious way to establish a career. Competitive gaming, just like any other sport, requires an immense amount of effort to play and compete on professional levels. Esports competitors can secure sponsors by participating in tournaments, as well as becoming endorsed by them for potential partnerships and sponsorships.

Streaming games online to grow a strong following can enable players to create a brand as a worthy esports competitor. Audience growth on various platforms such as Twitch or YouTube can help with securing sponsors and generating paid advertisement opportunities. Streaming plays a significant role in establishing the legitimacy of competitive gamers in the industry as well as being the perfect opportunity to display talents in both individual and team game settings, all with an audience.

Players can also explore and educate on the way of esports through established university courses to further educate individuals intending to pursue this path. Not only do these courses educate one on the patterns from established organizations and manage the learning curve, but there are many opportunities for students to secure scholarships and experiential learning alternatives to experience the esports industry firsthand.

The upcoming Panam Esports Championships 2023 is one of GEF’s global platforms for athletes to play on the world stage and to grow an international esports career. Building a career in esports is just as legitimate and profitable as any industry. Much like any other career path, esports requires training, dedication, hard work, and perseverance. With the right amount of effort, avid gamers can now turn their hobbies and passion into a career path.