eSports Earnings

The very idea of playing video games for a living may have sounded preposterous two decades ago. However, in current times, this has changed a lot, marked by the rise of eSports. More than just a pleasant way to pass the time, these games allow gamers to have huge eSports earnings. The best paying games constitute the MOBA and Dota tournaments, which have the largest prize pools.

If you are wondering about how much money one can make on eSports, then keep on reading. Additionally, we shall also inform you as to what it would take for you to get into eSports so that you, too, can start making big money today. All things considered, if you are a gaming enthusiast, half the battle is already won.

How Much Do Players Really Make?

The eSports community worldwide has been growing exponentially and could quite possibly be a billion-dollar industry soon. There are, on average, 191 million gaming enthusiasts going through the various competitions on YouTube and Yahoo. With a fantastic growth rate comes a lot of money for professional gamers.

Most tournaments feature games such as Call of Duty series, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, though none comes close to being as popular as Dota 2. Indeed, it accounts for all the top eSports earnings. Some of the players have even gone on to make millions of dollars.

Who Is The Highest Earning ESports Player?

Let’s take a look at some of the top five players that have made the most money over the years. Though most of them are professional Dota 2 players, some of them have become rich by playing other games as well.

• Lasse Urpalainen – As a Finnish player, Lasse has achieved considerable successes in the world of eSports. Over the years, he has represented several teams and is currently working with Team Liquid. He was part of the team that won the International in 2017 and many other tournaments all over the world. To this date, he has earned $3.4 million in the eSports field and is only 24 years of age.
• Ivan Ivanov – Another player from Team Liquid is this 24 years old Bulgarian. He turned professional in 2014 and has represented many popular teams in his career. Even though he was subject to controversy in June 2018 for making an anti-Russian remark during a live game, he continues to be one of the most significant assets of the Netherland-based team. As of this date, he has earned more than 3 million dollars.
• Amer Al-Barkawi – This Polish 22-year old rose through the ranks initially in only individual games and topped the European ranks in 2015. Later on, he became part of the OG team and won various championships and tournaments before signing up with Team Liquid. Currently, his eSports player earnings stand at $3.7 million.
• Johan Sundstein –As a 26-year old from Danish origin whose choice of game is Heroes of Newerth, Johan is a much-experienced player and is also a coach within the community. He is also the founder and captain of the OG team and has won multiple tournaments since 2014. His own earnings through eSports stand at $3.8 million.
• Kuro Takhasomi –This Team Liquid player turned professional at the age of 16 and has, to date, the highest eSports earnings in the whole community. He is also one of the three players to have participated in every single International since it began, winning it in 2017. At the age of 26, this German player’s winnings stand at more than $4.1 million. He still is the captain of Team Liquid and is considered a legend in the community.

How Much Money Is In ESports?

To know exactly how much money is there in eSports, let’s take a look at the salaries of pro gamers salaries and see what all it includes:

• Prizes – In America, top awards can reach up to two hundred thousand dollars for a single victory. There are some tournaments, which prize money runs in the millions, but these are usually divided up amongst the 4-5 members of the team. For example, Dota 2 International in 2017 had a prize pool of more than $24 million and Team Liquid won $10 million from that.
• Regular Salaries –Salaries will differ from team to team and from player to player. The regular salaries of an average pro gamer will range from $1000 to $5000, while the most paid players can earn up to $15000 every month in addition to the money they get from winnings. The salaries are based on various factors such as skills, reputation, and social following. For example, professional players from Ember, an American League of Legend team, receive a salary ranging from $65,000 to $75,000. These players can also earn extra bonuses up to $27,000 sometimes.
• Sponsors – A significant part of the eSports earnings players make through sponsors. Most gaming tournament sponsors include manufacturers who make equipment such as mice, keyboards, headphones, as well as energy drinks. But even if a company is not related to gaming, they still can become a sponsor, as was the case with Audi in 2017 when it provided a sponsorship value of 3 quarter of a million dollars.
• Streaming –Many gamers also make use of online streaming to add to their salary. A streamer with even 2000 followers can earn an extra $5000 every month. Subscribing to Twitch stream requires one to pay $4.99 every month, half of which goes to the streamer. Gamers on Twitch also tend to make additional money via ads on their stream, or by taking donations.

How to Get into ESports?

Before we begin, we need to say that eSports supports two types of careers – those who play and those who make up the infrastructure that supports the players. Other than being a pro gamer, there are various other career opportunities, and these are listed below:

• Coach
• Host
• Referee
• Event Manager
• Agent
• Sponsor
• Organization Owner
• Journalist

However, since being a gamer is what is most desirable, we will focus on that alone. Let’s take a look at some strategies that can help you make huge eSports earnings.

Focus on One Game

Primarily, you need to know which games are you most attracted to and are comfortable with. Some of the most famous games are FPS like Counter-Strike, strategy games like StarCraft, MOBA like DOTA, and fighting games.

Gaming Platform

Once you have chosen your game, it is time to select the platform on which you are going to play. It could be a PC, Xbox, or PlayStation. Even a controller can replace the mouse and keyboard, but if PC is not your option, be prepared for investing some of your money for that. Even a PC player might require powerful processors than the one that you already have.

Study Technique, Strategy, and Tactics

It can be done by watching online streams on Twitch or YouTube, where players can influence your gaming skills for the better. This way, you can also find other gamers who are interested in the game of your choice. Learning from experienced players is one of the best ways of learning to level up your game.

Get In Touch With Other Players

It is best to build your own network of friends and a team that plays the same game. It is easily achievable thanks to in-game chats, forums, and social networks.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Practice makes perfect – no matter what it is. If you want to become a professional-level eSports player, you will require hours of dedicated gameplay to reach the desired skill level. In addition, you need to play with players who are better than you are to progress faster.

Join a Gaming League

Many leagues allow a team to participate in seasonal competitions, which ultimately lead to a championship tournament. Doing this will help you gain the experience necessary to play on big occasions. Also, participate in online tournaments as they can also help get eSports players earnings and recognition in the community. If you are not able to participate, you can still join and spectate to feel the atmosphere and understand what it takes to have a career in eSports.

Increase in Online Presence

Building an online reputation is going to bring all sorts of opportunities for you to become a pro gamer. It can be done by creating your own tutorial videos, writing for gaming blogs, or by only staying active on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and other such social media.

In conclusion, the eSports community is one of the fastest-growing communities in the world. Thanks to its exponential growth, a lot of money has been invested in it. It has been the main reason why eSports earnings can be so high and so appealing to the average gamer.

Some of these players have been pro gamers for only five or six years and have already accumulated more than $3 million with winnings, sponsors, and regular salaries. Of course, there are various other careers associated with eSports, but since they are not as high paying or as enjoyable as being an actual pro gamer, there is not much that we would say about them.

If you, too, want to become a professional eSports player, you have to pick a game that you are most confident with and go all out with it. With time, practice, and a pro-active attitude, you can be a part of this thriving community. Always be on the lookout for opportunities to play with players who are better than you are. That is the best way to learn and to get a foot in the door.