More gamers are going pro than ever before. Thanks to the eSports boom of the late 2010s, there are more ways for competitive gamers to make a living doing what they love. Many work on eSports teams as players, while others might have shifted their expertise to a more administrative role.
Then there are streamers. Streamers make their living by using the latest tech to entertain followers and, along the way, pick up sponsorships and similar marketing deals. For gamers who hope to turn their passion into a career, there’s plenty to work toward. That being said, what types of games are easiest to go pro in? And how does that even happen?
Before the turn of the century, only games like poker offered a way to go pro. Professional poker players slowly built up their skills before being invited to competitive tournaments like the World Series of Poker. Today, however, most poker players go pro just like their eSports counterparts.
They cut their teeth by playing online rather than in person. And just like a gamer might take notes watching an eSports game, poker players regularly jot down their thoughts and observations while watching live tournaments. In other words, the path to going pro isn’t shrouded in mystery. It’s actually very mainstream—especially for long-time gamers.
But which gaming genres offer the most viable future in terms of winnings and infrastructure? Let’s take a closer look.
Fighting Games
When it comes to popular eSports, most gamers and non-gamers probably think about MOBAs and FPSs first. In reality, however, fighting games have been around for decades. In fact, the very first global competitions for fighting games were scheduled as early as 1996 in California.
At the time, the fighting game community (FGC) was helping pave the way for future eSports competitions and LAN parties. Today, the FGC remains the most robust and active segment in all of eSports—beating other hits like League of Legends and Call of Duty.
MOBAs
Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas, like FPSs, are one of the easiest pathways for eSports hopefuls to pursue. While fighting games are broader in terms of reach and competition, MOBAs take the cake when it comes to prize pools. For gamers who want to ensure they have plenty of chances to make money in the future, MOBAs are the way to go. But keep in mind that all that money means the world of MOBA eSports is one of the most competitive in the world.
FPSs
Just like with MOBAs, FPS eSports offer plenty of potential winnings for gamers—and, once again, tons of stiff competition to wade through. FPS gamers also tend to take home a good amount of respect for what they do. FPS games are usually regarded as highly difficult because of the demands of accuracy.
Players need to have a top-tier sense of aim in order to excel in FPSs. Compared to the strategic teamwork employed in MOBAs and the wide range of skills available for fighting game characters, the FPS’s accuracy demands are quite unforgiving.
RTSs
Real-time strategy games are all about complex and accurate decision-making. Though not as widely watched as FPS and MOBA competitions, RTS games have been part of the eSports industry for well over a decade. In fact, StarCraft II and Warcraft III have longstanding legacies in terms of competitive, paid play.
Simulators
Simulations are one of the more interesting and niche corners of the eSports world. While they don’t make quite as much money as other genres, there’s a growing interest in these types of games. That means that the future is bright for simulations… assuming players are able to build some real-world knowledge.
The most popular eSports-level simulators are sports simulations, sports managers, eSports managers, flight simulators, and even newer forays like Ultimate Disc Golf—for digital players. If you’ve got a niche simulation interest, consider looking into competitions. While simulations don’t offer too many in-person tournaments, there are multiple international and virtual competitions.
Read More: click here
